Sammendrag
The archaeological excavation at Søndre gate 7–11 was conducted in 2016–2017 and has revealed complex activity spanning more than 800 years. Top of natural subsoil sands lay at + 5,1 -5, 9 masl., and top of topsoil lay at +8, 8–9 masl. The preserved archaeological deposits varied in depth from app. 0, 75 m to app. 3 m. Preservation conditions where very variable throughout the site. The excavation has provided several interesting and unique results, especially regarding topographic conditions and landscape development in the 10th century, early- urban development in the 11th century, and the religious use of the area spanning from the 11th to the 14th century. In the 10th century there is evidence of activity within and around an old bay in the river, where in the 11th century there is later established two properties on a sand-filled platform stretching out into the bay. This early urban activity had four construction phases, and the find assemblages from these phases suggests activity connected to trade and specialized metalworking. In the mid-11th century the area was repurposed, and a timber church with an associated cemetery was built on the site. Four subsequent churches burnt down and were rebuilt on the same spot, of which the oldest was a so called post-built church and the remaining four have been interpreted as stave churches set on both stone- and wood foundations. Ritual or symbolic handling of liturgical objects have been registered in association with the churches, of note is the deposition of parts from a possible baptismal font in the postholes from the first church. The excavated parts of the cemetery yielded 276 graves that were buried in up to seven levels. In the post-medieval period the church-site is re-regulated into three properties. The artefacts from latrines belonging to these properties suggest that the households were placed in the upper parts of the social structure in contemporary Trondheim.
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