A rare iron gauntlet from the 14th century has been unearthed during an archaeological excavation at Oslo’s former harbor, adding to the rich tapestry of discoveries made in the area. This exceptional find was made by archaeologists from the Norwegian Insтιтute for Cultural Heritage Research (NIKU), who have been excavating the Bispevika area since 2019.

Remains of a medieval iron gauntlet discovered in Oslo. Credit: Norwegian Insтιтute for Cultural Heritage Research

Oslo was originally founded as a medieval city and port around 1050 by King Harald Hardraade. In 1624, after a devastating fire that destroyed much of the city, King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway decided to move Oslo to a location across the fjord, closer to the Akershus Fortress. The city was renamed Christiania and retained this name until 1925 when it reverted to Oslo.

The harbor area, which played a crucial role in the city’s medieval history, has been the focus of extensive archaeological investigations since 2019. Over the centuries, as the sea receded, the old harbor expanded, leading to the construction of docks and warehouses. These excavations have uncovered a wealth of artifacts, including ceramics, footwear, ropes, remains of slaughtered animals, shipwrecks, and an impressive collection of weapons.

The recent find of a rare iron gauntlet, possibly belonging to a medieval knight, was a surprising and valuable discovery. These gauntlets, typically made of iron, were designed to protect the hands and wrists of soldiers and knights who had upgraded from chainmail to plate armor in the early 14th century. However, such finds are exceedingly rare due to the rapid corrosion of metal and the medieval practice of recycling and reforging iron.

The gauntlet impression. Credit: Norwegian Insтιтute for Cultural Heritage Research

According to Håvard Hegdal, an archaeologist at NIKU and the excavation’s project manager, the gauntlet was found approximately 40 meters offshore. “It could only have fallen from a ship, although we don’t have a clear explanation for why that might have happened,” Hegdal said in an email to Live Science. He also noted that the gauntlet was found beneath a layer of blue clay, which they dated to around 1380. This suggests it may have been lost during a significant quick clay landslide and the subsequent waves.

Despite its age, little remains of the gauntlet today. What survives is mostly an imprint of the armor, with small rivets and a possible buckle visible in X-rays. This imprint was enough for the archaeologists to identify the object as a gauntlet.

The exact circumstances of how the gauntlet ended up at the bottom of the harbor remain a mystery. Hegdal expressed skepticism about it being lost in battle, stating, “The gauntlet would never have been left lying in the streets in medieval Oslo. This is an extremely expensive object. An ordinary person would never own something like this.” He suggested it might have been discarded due to damage or simply lost due to unfortunate circumstances.

The area has yielded numerous other weapons, including daggers, swords, spears, and axes. Understanding the full story behind these finds is challenging due to the loss of many Norwegian documents in a fire in 1728. Oslo’s medieval city laws were not preserved, further complicating efforts to piece together the city’s history.

“Many Norwegian medieval documents were burned in Copenhagen in the 1700s. The city law for Oslo is not preserved,” Hegdal told Science Norway. Despite these challenges, the ongoing excavations by NIKU, which are set to conclude in November, continue to shed new light on Oslo’s past.

More information: Norwegian Insтιтute for Cultural Heritage Research