Latest news with #GöranBengtsson
Fox News
5 days ago
- General
- Fox News
History buff uncovers lost medieval monastery thanks to strange map symbol
A history buff with a metal detector recently led archaeologists to the site of a medieval monastery – all thanks to a strange symbol spotted on an old map. Arkeologerna, an archaeological organization affiliated with the Swedish government, announced the discovery this month. The remains of the monastery were found in a field in Derome, in southwest Sweden. In a statement translated from Swedish to English, Arkeologerna credited hobbyist Göran Bengtsson with pinpointing the site. While studying 18th-century maps, Bengtsson noticed a strange rectangle — and brought himself to the site. A surveyor marked the location as "Klosterkullen," or "monastery hill," on a 1760 map. After an alert from Bengtsson, archaeologists headed out to the location to use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to scope out the site. GPR can show things hidden in the ground — and it revealed the walls of "probable" monastery ruins. Archaeologist Bengt Westergaard said the find came as a total surprise to him. "I have worked as an archaeologist for 40 years, and this is something unique," Westergaard said. He added, "I have never seen anything like it; the walls were very clearly visible." "I have never seen anything like it." The weather conditions helped archaeologists, too. Bengtsson found traces of the monastery on a dry summer day. "When the ground is dry, something called crop marks can form, and these walls are very visible above ground," he explained. "When using ground-penetrating radar, any structures below ground appear as dark spots, and here there was a significant anomaly." Archaeologists uncovered walls which are roughly 6.5 feet thick, as well as other facets of the building. Experts believe the walls were remains of pillar foundations. "It is the eastern wing and dormitory we see," Arkeologerna's statement added. "It is not certain that more was built; they may have started building the church and then stopped." "We won't know until we investigate the site further." Dating back to the late 1100s, the monastery might be the original site of Ås Abbey, a large monastery managed by the Cistercian religious order. "Ås … was later moved in the 13th century," the statement continued. "In a letter from a meeting in 1243, the then-abbot applied to move Ås monastery." Sweden, a Nordic country rich in history, has been home to several historical discoveries in the past year. Last spring, archaeologists uncovered a 12th century grave during a dig – and found buried treasure along with it. This year, Arkeologerna announced the discovery of an "unusual" Viking-era coffin dating back over 1,100 years.
Miami Herald
22-05-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Hobbyist studying old map notices odd mark that leads to medieval find in Sweden
Göran Bengtsson, a hobby archaeologist, was studying an 18th-century map of southwestern Sweden when he noticed something unusual. A rectangle and the word 'Klosterkullen,' which translates to 'monastery hill,' was drawn in an area that today is an empty field in Derome, according to a May 13 news release from the Swedish archaeology service Arkeologerna. On a dry summer day, Bengtsson scanned the area using a drone and metal detector. He found clear traces or crop marks in the ground — evidence of a buried structure, experts said. Bengtsson enlisted the help of professional archaeologist Bengt Westergaard at Arkeologerna. Ground-penetrating radar confirmed the presence of 6.5-feet-thick walls, pillar foundations and other building parts. Bengtsson had discovered a medieval monastery likely dating back to the late 12th century, according to the release. Experts said this may have been the east wing of the unfinished Cistercian monastery of Ås, the release said. A letter from a meeting in 1243 shows the then-abbot, or head of the monastery, applied to have it moved. The site was relocated some time during the 13th century, according to experts. Westergaard said in his 40 years as an archaeologist, he has never seen anything like this, according to the release. The Order of Cistercians was part of the Roman Catholic monastic order founded in 1098. The group was made up of monks, and eventually, nuns. Additional ground-penetrating radar scans will be performed to try and locate more of the monastery, experts said. No archaeological excavations have been planned. Derome is about a 340-mile drive southwest from Stockholm. Google Translate was used to translate the news release from Arkeologerna.
