LANDA PARK
HISTORY
Fossanmoen and Landa have been the site of the largest archaeological excavations in Norway. Over 80,000 square meters have been explored, revealing traces of more than 250 houses—dating from around 1500 BC to about 600 AD. In other words, people have lived here for over 2,000 years!
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Landa aims to convey understanding and knowledge of prehistoric times through the reconstruction of buildings, lifestyle, and working conditions.
Based on excavation findings, a total of 13 different prehistoric buildings from three main periods are planned:
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Bronze Age (1800–500 BC) | Roman Period (0–350 AD) | Migration Period (350–600 AD)
Before building more structures, we aim to bring life to the existing houses and the area around them.
Societal Development
The development of society at Landa mirrors similar settlements across Scandinavia. With the arrival of the Bronze Age came agriculture in Norway, leading to permanent settlement. People settled at Landa as early as 1500 BC. The community gradually expanded—from 1–2 farms in the Early Bronze Age to 3–4 in the Late Bronze Age, and eventually 6–8 farms in the Pre-Roman Iron Age. By the Migration Period, around 350 AD, the area had developed into a village with about 20 farms, surrounded by pastures and fields. This is the oldest and only known village of its kind discovered in Norway.
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Everyday Life
Life at Landa was built on a combination of hunting, fishing, and farming—a balanced foundation for a sustainable way of life. The settlement had strong connections with Europe through trade. They exported iron, hides, and fish, and imported grain and prestige goods. The guild hall and burial mounds reflect a powerful and stratified society, where both authority and wealth were clearly present in the landscape.
Agriculture
Pollen analysis and phosphate samples reveal intensive farming at Landa. The climate determined both what was grown and how agriculture was practiced. The Bronze Age was especially favorable for grain cultivation, while livestock farming became more common during the Iron Age.
Religion
Six burial mounds have been found at Landa. Only the most important individuals were buried in mounds. The dead were seen as part of the family, and caring for them was an important religious act. Burial customs—such as the type of grave, number of grave goods, and the items buried—reflected a person's status in society.
Reconstructed Houses
Four prehistoric houses illustrate how people lived during the Bronze and Iron Ages. Several other house sites are marked with posts placed in original postholes.
The Bronze Age house is dated to around 1000 BC and consists of two sections. It is built with clay walls and a turf roof. We also have a reconstructed storage house from the same period.
The Guild Hall
The Guild Hall measures 40 meters long and 7.5 meters wide and dates back to the Migration Period, around 400 AD. This was the chieftain’s grand hall at Landa—with long tables and a central hearth. It was a high-status building used for both social and religious gatherings.
The Blacksmith
The smithy, also from the Migration Period (ca. 350–600 AD), was where iron tools were crafted. It consists of two sections, one of which likely served as the blacksmith’s living quarters.
Marked Longhouses
In the area, some of the 250 houses uncovered during the 1980s–90s excavations at Fossanmoen are marked. Posts in the ground represent the structural elements:
Roof-bearing posts stand in two parallel rows. They are either circular (about 20 cm in diameter) or rectangular (around 10 × 20 cm).
Posts for doorways are placed about half a meter inside the wall lines.
Wall lines consist of round posts or a long base beam. All posts are cut 40 cm above the ground to clearly outline each house’s footprint.