Places with a story
Herlaugshaugen
Herlaugshaugen is a large grass-covered burial mound at Skei on Leka. Recent archaeological work confirms a ship burial from before the Viking Age, giving this quiet coastal monument a new place in the history of early seafaring and power.
The place23
The mound stands in a cultural landscape shaped by farming and coastal travel. Its broad form is the visible monument; visitors do not see an exposed ship. The surrounding Skei and Skeisnesset landscape provides context for understanding why a conspicuous burial mound could signal status beside important maritime routes.
History and local connections1
A small investigation in 2023 was carried out for Riksantikvaren by the NTNU University Museum. Twenty-nine ship fastenings helped confirm the burial's character. Radiocarbon dates from surviving wood and charcoal point to the late seventh or early eighth century. This places the mound in the Merovingian period, earlier than the conventional Viking Age.
What to look for1
The evidence changes how the site should be described. The ship was probably built using elm, based on the surviving wood examined by the researchers. Its burial demonstrates that major ship monuments existed on this coast before the better-known Viking examples. The mound's saga associations are another cultural layer, but they should not replace the excavated evidence.
Planning a visit234
Use the local visitor information and the information board at the mound to orient yourself. Follow designated paths and avoid digging, collecting material or damaging the grass-covered monument. It is a protected archaeological site rather than an open excavation. For a longer walk, check the municipality's guidance for the Skei and Skeisnesset cultural landscape and current local conditions.
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