In Norway, a graduate student and archaeologist Thor-Ketil of Cromital from the University of tromsø found evidence that during the Viking age in the North in the village of Sandtorg was located the oldest trading post.
About the opening told the online edition of Science Norway. The student has decided on the spot to verify the authenticity of the old sagas. They tell us that the Vikings controlled the coast in the North of Norway, and there was a real commercial city.
the name of the modern village Sandtorg confirms this. Translated it means “sand market”. The researcher suggested that the ancient name of a huge market, hosted right on the sandy shore.
He armed himself with a metal detector and found many artifacts, the oldest of which date back to 800 years BC. So, Cromital found a large number of iron weights and jewelry. The analysis of these items revealed that some of them were imported from the territory of modern Ireland and Finland, and also with mainland Europe, and it happened in the IX century.
Findings indicate that Sandtorg really was a market town. At the moment it is the oldest trading post in Northern Norway, known to science. The researcher is the most important finding considers the large piece of iron. In his opinion, this indicates the presence of a forge, hence, there is situated a permanent trading post.
it used to be that trade appeared and began to grow in this place only in the XIII century. However, the artifacts found prove that it happened about 400 years earlier.
Sandtorg located on the shore of the Strait Tjeldsundet. It was a strategically important point. Due to the strong currents passing court did a stop here. Norwegian sagas say that local chiefs had control of the Strait and likely impose fees on the shipping even before the Viking era. With the Vikings well this place turned into a market on the shore, where sailors exchanged goods.
In the sagas also mention the residents of Sandtorg who helped the sailors to repair their ships and build their own ships. The above mentioned piece of iron could be associated with this practice.
a Brisk trade was carried out in Sandtorg up to 1500 years. However, in the XVI century, adopted a number of laws to regulate it. They have stricter requirements. For example, one of such laws, control the trade could only residents of the city. And to trade on the shore they were allowed only in the summer, and in winter they had to stay in the city.
Gradually the number of dealers here declined. In the end, there was only one trader. However, the coastal market worked here until 1950-ies.
