An interesting finding shedding light on Norway’s past is one of the rare examples where history and legends intersect. The Sverris Saga, dating back to King Sverre Sigurdsson’s reign from 1184-1202, tells of a man who was murdered and thrown into a well, and then covered with stones. This narrative, long considered just a story, gained a new dimension with the works of archaeologists and genetic scientists.
Legend Turns Into Reality With Archaeological Evidence
In a historical well near Sverresborg Castle in Trondheim, modern genetic analyses performed on a skeleton revealed that the legend was based on a real event. It is thought that the skeleton belonged to a man killed during the Catholic invasion in 1197, who was probably thrown into the well to possibly poison the water sources.
Genetic Analyses Confirm the Legend
Genetic analyses show that the skeleton belongs to a man from the Vest-Agder region of Southern Norway, aged between 30-40, with light brown or blonde hair and blue eyes. Scientists have managed to uncover the secrets of the past by combining historical and legendary characters through carbon testing and genetic analysis. The significance of these findings lies in proving the reality of characters mentioned in historical texts.