Vestvågøy
- 13
Trollsteinen
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Site/Artefact
Trollsteinen
Type
Stone block with carved
cross
Site
Number
None
UTM Grid
Reference
478569 East
7566885 North
Map (
1:50000)
Topografisk Hovedkartserie -
M711 No 1131 II
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Trollsteinen
(Photo: Wenche Brun, Lofotr, the Viking
Museum)

Drawing of the cross
together with: top: a variant of the
Christ-symbol
bottom: regular latin cross(After R,
Bertelsen, 2001)
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Description
This structure is, with its cross,
directly connected to religion. The size of the
stone is about 1x2 metres, and one of the vertical
sides has a cross engraved/carved, of 75 cm in
height. The shape of the cross is similar to those
used around the year 1000 AD in the north of
Norway.
Some researchers see similarities with Celtic
areas in the British isles where crosses with rings
were used, while another theory explains the cross
as a variant of the Christ monogram, or Chi-Ro
symbol.
The stone-block may have been part of
Sámi cult, and then carved with the cross by
Christians, to incorporate it into the new
belief.
Such structures are not a common feature, the
most similar is the "Sigmundarsteinur" at
Skuvøy (Faroe Islands) and one "cross-rock"
at Birsay (Orkney Islands).
Excavation Details
Not Available
Access/Ownership
Today the stone is situated close to the main road
E-10, at the first crossroads south of the church
Lofotkatedralen. The stone is included as part of
the project "Footprints in the North".
References
- Bertelsen, R. 1998. Vågans kirkested
fra tusenårsskiftet til 1300 tallet. Fra
Kong Øysteins kirke til Lofotkatedralen.
Vågan kirke 100 år.
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