Latest news with #Hamar
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Followed a 500-Year-Old Clue—and Found a Lost Town Hiding in Plain Sight
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: Years of searching for a lost medieval Norwegian town was finally rewarded with a discovery. Crews used a 500-year-old legend to start the search, but used more modern georadar techniques to pinpoint the right spot for excavation. The team discovered the lost town of Hamarkaupangen, the first ruin being a two-room home. A 16th century tale of a Norwegian town just east of a bishop's castle turned out to be far more than ancient lore. Archaeological crews from the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research and the Anno Museum have revealed the discovery of Hamarkaupangen, the lost medieval town from the story. The Chronicles of Hamar—a 16th century text—describes the settlement, believed to have originated in the 11th century, as east of the cathedral and the bishop's castle in Hamar, located in southern Norway. The only problem? Every time archaeologists looked, they found just trivial topsoil-level artifacts and no real evidence of an established medieval village. Belief the city ever existed started to wane altogether, while others questioned if maybe the village was only a seasonal trading post. That doubt has all for naught. Georadar was only first used in 2023, and that really helped move the project along. Crews used the technology—in 2023 and 2024—to search a field east of the cathedral and castle, locating the town just where the 16th-century text said it would be, confirming the legend. This summer, an excavation dug three feet below a layer of stone into what the team believes is a two-room home, according to a translated statement from the institute. Buried under the masonry, the team exposed wooden structures they believe are walls and floors, confirming the findings from the georadar survey that showed the remains of wooden buildings that once made up the town. Researchers believe the radar shows the site as a two-room living area with logs and plank floors. The hunt is now on for the fireplace. 'We were very excited about what it looked like down below, because thick layers of quarries are a context that we have not worked with before,' Monica Kristiansen, archaeologist on the project, said in a translated statement. 'We therefore have no prior knowledge of how the stone-filled layers will affect the visibility of, for example, wood in the georadar data. In addition, there are poor preservation conditions for organic material in these areas, and any remains of wooden buildings was therefore assumed to be poorly preserved. Therefore, it is very gratifying that the georadar impetrations are successful.' To get inside, the team opened a small peephole into what they believe is the living area. Already, through the 43-square-foot hole, the crew has identified wall logs and floors, 'and that bodes well for the rest of the field,' Kristiansen said. As the search continues for the fireplace, Kristiansen is confident that the radar findings showing additional urban structures in line with Norwegian medieval architecture, groupings of buildings, narrow passages, and even street layouts will play out in excavations just as this site has. The long-held legend of Hamarkaupangen is no longer just a legend. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life? Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Thousands in Norway told they had won life-changing sums in lottery error
Thousands of Norwegians were mistakenly told they had won life-changing sums in the country's Eurojackpot draw after an error by the state-owned gambling operator, Norsk Tipping. In a statement on Friday, Norsk Tipping said 'several thousand customers were notified of incorrectly high prizes'. The mistake has prompted the resignation of the company's chief executive. The company receives prize amounts from Germany in euros, which are then converted to Norwegian kroner. 'It is during this conversion that a manual error has been made in the code that is entered into our game engine,' the company said in a statement. 'The amount has been multiplied by 100, instead of being divided by 100.' The inflated sums were displayed on the company's website and mobile app on Friday but were later removed. Norsk Tipping confirmed no incorrect payouts were made. The error has triggered sharp criticism from customers, regulators and the Norwegian minister of culture. The company held an emergency meeting with the ministry of culture on Saturday to explain the incident. On Sunday, CEO Tonje Sagstuen announced she would step down from the role she had held since September 2023. 'As a manager, it has been my responsibility to handle the mistakes that have occurred,' she said in a statement. 'Therefore, it is also incredibly sad to leave Norsk Tipping and all the talented people who work in Hamar. I will miss everyone I have worked with, but I am confident that all the improvement processes we have initiated are in good hands.' Several Norwegians told NRK they had begun celebrating before discovering the mistake. One couple in Herøy believed they had won 1.2m kroner (£87,000) during a home renovation, while others said they planned to buy cars or take holidays before realising the messages were incorrect. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion 'It was a very fun minute,' said Lise Naustdal, who thought she had won nearly 1.9m kroner (£138,000). This is not the first time Norsk Tipping has faced scrutiny. The company acknowledged it has experienced 'a number of technical problems' over the past year. The company has said it will continue to investigate the incident. The Guardian has contacted Norsk Tipping for further comment.
The Guardian
29-06-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Thousands in Norway told they had won life-changing sums in lottery error
Thousands of Norwegians were mistakenly told they had won life-changing sums in the country's Eurojackpot draw after an error by the state-owned gambling operator, Norsk Tipping. In a statement on Friday, Norsk Tipping said 'several thousand customers were notified of incorrectly high prizes'. The mistake has prompted the resignation of the company's chief executive. The company receives prize amounts from Germany in euros, which are then converted to Norwegian kroner. 'It is during this conversion that a manual error has been made in the code that is entered into our game engine,' the company said in a statement. 'The amount has been multiplied by 100, instead of being divided by 100.' The inflated sums were displayed on the company's website and mobile app on Friday but were later removed. Norsk Tipping confirmed no incorrect payouts were made. The error has triggered sharp criticism from customers, regulators and the Norwegian minister of culture. The company held an emergency meeting with the Ministry of Culture on Saturday to explain the incident. On Sunday, CEO Tonje Sagstuen announced she would step down from the role she had held since September 2023. 'As a manager, it has been my responsibility to handle the mistakes that have occurred,' she said in a statement. 'Therefore, it is also incredibly sad to leave Norsk Tipping and all the talented people who work in Hamar. I will miss everyone I have worked with, but I am confident that all the improvement processes we have initiated are in good hands.' Several Norwegians told NRK they had begun celebrating before discovering the mistake. One couple in Herøy believed they had won 1.2 million kroner (£87,000) during a home renovation, while others said they planned to buy cars or take holidays before realising the messages were incorrect. Sign up to This is Europe The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment after newsletter promotion 'It was a very fun minute,' said Lise Naustdal, who thought she had won nearly 1.9 million kroner (£138,000). This is not the first time Norsk Tipping has faced scrutiny. The company acknowledged it has experienced 'a number of technical problems' over the past year. The company has said it will continue to investigate the incident. The Guardian has contacted Norsk Tipping for further comment.
