Posted on 03/13/2007 4:00:41 PM PDT by blam
Centuries-old watchtower found in Trondheim
Archaeologists in Trondheim have found the remains of what they believe was a watchtower made of stone, probably dating from the time of King Sverre in the 1100s.
Here's a drawing of the tower believed to have been at least five stories tall.
Archaeologist Ian Reed says the tower's floor is in good shape.
The tower was located near the mouth of the river Nidelv, at lower left.
The tower, which may have been more than 20 meters high, is being called an "incredibly rare discovery" that can shed new light on Trondheim's history.
Preservation experts believe the tower ruins will be a new attraction in the city that's famed for its landmark Nidaros Cathedral. It's only the second non-church-related stone structure found from the early Middle Ages in Trondheim.
The tower is mentioned in a saga written in connection with a massacre in the city in 1206. It was discovered under two buildings that were about to be torn down to make way for a new hotel.
The portion that probably was the tower's first floor was being used as a vaulted cellar under the buildings. Sissel Skoglund of the state Office of Historic Monuments' Trondheim chapter (Riksantikvaren) said it's subject to automatic preservation but may be incorporated into the hotel. Discussions were set to begin with the hotel's developer, Entra Eiendom.
Archaeologist Ian Reed said the tower was located close to the mouth of the river Nidelven, with a view over the fjord. Its floor is in excellent condition and he and his colleagues have also found the sides of the tower's lower walls, which are about a meter-and-a-half thick.
Reed believes the tower was torn down in the late 1600s because residents needed its stone blocks for foundations for new homes built after a major fire, or for repairs to Nidaros Cathedral.
Thanks...you got my point. Some people can't help but whine no matter what you do....usually, it's women.
The history of Trondheim began in 997 when Olav Tryggvason founded the city. It already was a significant place of trade at the time, and was called Nidaros. The city has also carried the name Kaupangen, before it was named Trondheim in the Middle Ages.
As mentioned, people lived in the area before 997. Harald Fairhair, whom had the vision to unify Norway, was hailed King here in 872. Under Harald the Hard-ruler, the unification of Norway was completed. This happened in the mid-1000s, and Trondheim became the Capital of Norway. However; around 1300 Trondheim lost its status to Oslo.
The construction of Nidarosdomen began in 1070, and finished for the first time in 1320. This is originally a catholic church, and was the seat of the archbishop in Norway in the Middle Age. This ended in 1537, when the reformation forced the last archbishop, Olav Engelbrektson, to flee the city.
In 1349, the Black Plague came to Trondheim, killing two thirds of the population. The years in the wake of the plague were a hard time for both Trondheim and Norway, but some years later the population started to increase.
Before 1537, Trondheim was the undisputable religious centre for the Catholic Church in Norway. In 1537 this was put to an end by the Reformation.The city now had to find a new way of life, the answer being trade. Extensive use of the sea, the woods and the mountains became the foundation for the development of Trondheim. This strategy was largely influenced by immigrants from Germany. Trade became the most important tool to achieve economic growth, and the city managed to become the most influential trade city in Mid-Norway by the 18th century. Most of the imported goods that were headed to the north of the country were unloaded here.
Trondheim has been through many city fires, especially in the 17th, 18th and 19th century. In 1651, a huge fire destroyed 90% of the buildings. When another fire raged 30 years later, it was decided to build broad avenues, like Munkegata, in order to stop the next fire.
During the period at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century Trondheim experienced a time of substantial growth, and the population was more than doubled. In this period the range of production was extended, with industry, export, shipping and service functions. Norway had at this point one of the biggest sea fleets in the world, to which Trondheim made a big contribution.
The following years, to about the mid-60s were not that good. The economic crisis in the 30s had a huge impact, both socially and economically. Trondheim was also an important city for the Germans during the 2nd world war, which led to a large amount of artillery being placed in the city, as well as several submarine bases in the harbour. However, few were killed during the five years of occupation.
Since the 60s, when Trondheim expanded its city limits, a lot of people settled around the city core, and the population has continued to grow until today. Trondheim is still a centre in Middle-Norway, which creates a lot of jobs. The city is also important when it comes to education and science, especially engineering and natural sciences.
Most interesting.
Yes, Trondheim was an important bishopric in the Medieval Church. This tower would have been built quite early in its history.
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