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Vestvågøy - 1 Borg Site/Artefact Borg Type The area contains a number of house-dwellings, grave-mounds, boathouse-dwellings and charcoal-pits. Site Number gnr 93 UTM Grid Reference 448655 East 7570663 North Map ( 1:50000) Topografisk Hovedkartserie - M711 No 1031 II List of Sites and Artefacts Click Here Interactive Map Click Here The reconstructed chieftains house in wintertime (Photo: Vebjørn Storeide) Excavations at Borg Discovery of prehistoric pottery in situ (Photos: Lofotr, the Viking Museum) Description The Borg area became the focus for extended archaeological surveys and excavations after a local farmer's discoveries during ploughing in 1981. Large-scale excavations went on from 1986 to 1989. The excavations resulted in evidence of settlement from 200 AD to 1300 AD with imported material from southern Europe being found. All together, the results of the excavations are interpreted as evidence of a possible chieftain's seat from the Iron Age period. From the heights, the view is exceptional both to the sea and over the agricultural areas. The main excavations went on in the area we now call "The Sacred Heights". A very large building (Borg I), 83 m long was completely excavated, together with a nearby smaller building (Borg II), while other traces of settlement (Borg III and IV) were revealed through smaller excavations and trenches. Borg I-III has probably been settled continuously from 200 AD up to the 14th century, while it seems that Borg IV can be traced to the 18th century. The discovery of the settlement at Borg has revealed information about building-traditions during the Iron Age in Northern Norway, and also on the "transition period", the religious change from heathen to Christianity. At the same time, a large amount of artefacts has provided us with information about society and everyday life through a long period of time. The artefacts are evidence of extended traditions of handcraft, as well as the organisation of everyday life. Imported material has challenged traditional theories of contact, and the recovery of 5 unique gold foil figures illustrates the religious aspect of Iron Age society. The Sacred Heights have been settled for almost 2000 years, a period with continuous changes in social structure and religion. The recovery of the remains of the largest building ever found within Europe from this period shows us that the inhabitants of Lofoten were part of a chiefdom-system where services and trading-objects were exchanged regionally and internationally. Excavation Details Not Available Access/Ownership Public admission is available on payment of an entrance-fee. The museum-area is accessed by pathways with signposts. Cultural heritage sites outside of this area are private. References Munch, Johansen & Roesdal, 2003. Borg in Lofoten. A chieftain's farm in North Norway. Arkeologisk Skriftserie 1. Check out the following sections of the website for related information: Imported material Iron Age period Heathen to Christianity Other Vestvågøy Sites and Artefacts 1. Borg 2. Buksnesfjorden 3. Bøstad 4. Eggum 5. Einangen 6. Eltoft 7. Holsneset 8. Holsøya 9. Kvalnes 10. Moland 11. Nykmark 12. Skjerpen 13. Trollsteinen 14. Uttakleiv 15. Vendalsjord 16. The Stone Crosses 17. Malnes 18. Borg Burial Mounds 19. Borg Burial Mounds 20. Borg Roman House Site 21. Borg House Remains I:Ia 23. Borg I:Ib 24. Borg House Remains 25. Borg - Midden 26. Borg House Site 27. Borg House Sites 28. Borg Farm Ruins 29. Borg Medieval Sites 30. Borg Burial Mounds 31. Borg Possible Settlement 32. Borg Medieval House Site 33. Borg Boat Houses 34. Burial Mound 35. Burial Mound 36. Borg Burial Mound 37. Borg Modern Church 38. Bøstad Burial Cairn 39. Bøstad Removed Burials 40. Bøstad - Courtyard 41. Boat House and Burial 42. Bøstad House Sites 43. Bøstad Farm Mound 44. Rystad Boat Houses 45. Rystad Burial Mound 46. Burial and Farm Mound 47. Rystad Burial Mound 48. Rystad - Burials 49. Rystad Burial Cairn 50. Handberg Charcoal-Pits 51. Handberg Farm Mound 52. Handberg Charcoal Pit - 1 53. Handberg Charcoal Pit -2 54. Handberg Charcoal Pit - 3 55. Handberg Charcoal Pit - 4 56. Handberg Charcoal Pits 57. Handberg Charcoal Pit 58. Vendalsjord 59. Lie Burial Mound 60. Lie Boat House 61. Lie 62. Løvdal 63. Borgfjord Indre 64. Sletteng 65. Borgfjord Ytre 66. Ytre Borgfjord - Burial 67. Borgfjord Ytre 68. Ytre Borgfjord 69. Borgfjord Ytre 70. Hagvåg Boat House 71. Hagvåg Burial Mound 72. Hagvåg Bridge Construction 73. Evjen Farm Mound

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