Raknehaugen Mound: A New Perspective

Recent analysis using LiDAR technology indicates that the Raknehaugen mound, considered Scandinavia’s largest prehistoric structure, may have been created in response to a catastrophic landslide instead of serving as a burial site for an esteemed individual. This revelation, shared by Dr. Lars Gustavsen in a study published in the European Journal of Archaeology, challenges the long-standing belief surrounding the mound’s purpose.

Understanding Raknehaugen

Historically, mounds from the Iron Age were thought to represent socio-political power, often acting as burial sites for prominent figures. However, Raknehaugen has not yielded substantial evidence to support this idea. Its peculiar structure raises questions about whether it was intended for burials at all.

Situated about 40 kilometers from Oslo, the mound originally stood at 15 meters high and spanned 77 meters in width. Initial excavations by antiquarian Anders Lorange in 1869 and 1870 reached the mound’s base but found no signs of a burial. Later efforts in 1939 and 1940, led by Sigurd Grieg, reaffirmed Lorange’s claims, showing that the mound’s construction deviated from typical burial practices.

The building technique involved laying a turf base followed by alternating layers of clay and sand, which included remnants of cremated bone. On this foundation, builders created a pyramid-like structure using unbarked pine, branches, moss, and sandy clay. Multiple layers of timber and soil were added over time, resulting in a complex design that A. Ording described as “unusually ugly.”

In a new assessment, Dagfin Skre used radiocarbon dating on timber samples and estimated the mound’s construction between AD 536 and 660. His calculations suggest that building the mound would have required 450–600 workers, along with another group for timber supply. Interestingly, analysis of some cremated remains indicated they belonged to a human who lived much earlier, between 1391 and 1130 BC, implying these remains were likely placed within the mound rather than representing a burial.

Further dendrochronological studies of 100 pine trees suggest that the mound’s construction coincided with the Dust Veil Event, a significant volcanic eruption that disrupted climate and agriculture across the Northern Hemisphere. This period was marked by successive volcanic eruptions resulting in cooling, famine, and population decline.

The Landslide Connection

Dr. Gustavsen expressed skepticism about the interpretation of the mound as merely a burial site. He stumbled across evidence of a landslide while examining LiDAR data. This led him to reevaluate the mound’s contents, noting the timber’s consistency with a ritual rather than a burial function.

The LiDAR scans unveiled a landslide approximately 3,800 meters long and 40 cm high, prompting further investigation. “It’s somewhat visible today, but only if you know where to look; it just seems like a gentle dip,” he noted. This oversight, he believes, stems from researchers previously focusing too narrowly on the mound’s interior at the expense of its wider landscape context.

Raknehaugen’s location near the old landslide and its construction during a climatically unstable time raises the possibility that the mound was a response to a disastrous event. Indeed, changing climatic patterns might have prompted a shift from farming to grazing, which, combined with intensifying rainfall, could have destabilized the soil and led to the landslide.

The peculiar characteristics of some timber—such as snapped logs and trees felled too high for regrowth—imply that they were sourced from the landslide area. This suggests a disaster-response motivation similar to that seen in other cultures after catastrophic events.

Dr. Gustavsen argues that Raknehaugen is unique, highlighting that many mounds lack clear burial evidence. “This study suggests that if we see mounds primarily as ritual structures sometimes associated with burials, we can better understand their significance.” Ultimately, this new perspective aims to deepen comprehension of the broader mound phenomenon.