Planning a new route
That evening, I had leisurely browsed for sights, but also asked the apartment owner for advice. Locals, after all, know much more than any digital search engine.
A short route in the Lyngdal area
Based on the advice and some searching on the maps, I had mapped out a nice route for myself. A short loop of about 150 kilometers in the Lyngdal area. Fortunately, the rain and clouds had moved north, and the sun's rays reflected beautifully off Norway's many rock formations.
Unexpected paths
Not entirely planned, but not unwanted either, my planned route consisted of almost 70 kilometers of gravel roads. It was now easier for Lazuli and me. All our luggage could safely be left in the apartment, making it considerably smoother on these unpaved paths.
Norwegian beauty and historical remnants
Southern and southeastern Norway are significantly more densely populated than the rest of the country. This doesn't make Norway any less beautiful. The North Sea crashes against the high cliffs, beautiful fjords, numerous lakes, rivers, and waterfalls can also be found in this area. But also many remnants of the Second World War, the gigantic oil rigs hidden in the fjords at maintenance ports, and much more.
Discovering Tingvatn Fornminnepark
Meandering along the gravel paths and many beautiful roads, I ended up at my planned stop: Tingvatn Fornminnepark Museum. A museum about life in Norway in the pre-Viking era, the Great Migration Period.
Archaeological research and artifacts
Archaeological research is still ongoing at Tingvatn Fornminnepark. Several burial mounds have been identified and many other artifacts have been discovered. From pots, small buttons, a small scale, to runes engraved on the stones, and even swords in reasonable condition. The latter is quite unique. The soil in Norway is quite acidic, causing natural products such as animal and human remains to decompose quickly. Iron also decomposes rapidly in this acidic soil.
The Ring of Seven Stones and the Legend of Skjelva
But this museum not only contains information about the burial mounds and numerous artifacts, but also about legends. One such legend is the one about the girl Skjelva.
On the grounds of Tingvatn Fornminnepark, you'll find a ring of seven stones. The distance between the stones is 6 meters. The legend concerns the girl Skjelva. She was born as a farm servant. Unmarried, she gave birth to a baby for the farm's master, but to prevent others from finding out, she took the baby's life. The master's wife had a nightmare about a buried baby in a specific location, and that's how the body was discovered.
Skjelva vehemently denied her guilt, but no one believed her, and she was sentenced to death. However, Skjelva was given one chance to avoid punishment. If she could jump from stone to stone in the Ring of Seven Stones, she would prove her innocence and save her life. Legend has it that Skjelva managed to jump all the stones, until she reached the last one. At the last stone, she failed. Skjelva fell hard against the stone and died.
Passionate guides
The young guides spoke with incredible enthusiasm about the area, the archaeological research, and the exceptionally rich history of Norway, or rather, all of Scandinavia. With such passion that I highly recommend visiting this museum if you're in the area. I found it so fascinating that I spent almost the entire afternoon exploring the museum and its grounds.
The discovery of an ancient burial mound
On the way back to the apartment in Lyngdall, I stopped at a half-excavated burial mound and monument. It was unknown that it was a burial mound until 1933, when a local farmer discovered a sword belonging to a high-status person (the sword Snartemosverdet) during excavation. Presumably a local leader or judge from the Migration period. The grave contained numerous treasures, indicating that it was certainly a highly influential person with a large network, not only in the area but also far beyond.
An educational day and the beginning of the countdown
Not only did I once again enjoy the beauty of Norway, but it was also a very educational day. Satisfied, I sat down at a restaurant in Lyngdal, recommended by the apartment owner. To my delight, finally, no hamburger, pizza, or hot dog.
The countdown had begun. Just a little while longer and my last day with Lazuli in Norway would arrive.
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