Did you know that the visitor center at the Lofotr Viking Museum is designed as a courtyard site? Do you see the so-called “blue buildings” lying around the glass roof?
A courtyard site is a set of buildings or rooms located around circular or oval courtyards. Such ring-shaped structures have been interpreted as gathering places where the collective governance was presumably carried out. The number of houses varies depending on the size of the community and the representatives who were to meet at these gatherings.
An example of what a courtyard site would have looked like. Picture: Tor Kvarv
Archaeological investigations carried out in the past years showed that there were two courtyard sites on Vestvågøy, one in Leknes and one in Bøstad, and on the island Gimsøya. Below you can see two maps of the Bøstad and Leknes areas with traces of preserved house foundations.
The courtyard site in Bøstad
The courtyard site in Bøstad is located approx. 2 km north-east of the chieftain’s house and consists of four houses. On the map, you can see where the house foundations of the courtyard site are located in Bøstad.
The courtyard site in Leknes
The courtyard site in Leknes has 14 houses and is located in the middle of the town. In the picture you can clearly see the foundations of only two buildings, but as archaeological investigations suggest there were probably more houses.
Read more from the Middle Ages
The National Law Anniversary
This year we celebrate the 750th anniversary of Magnus Lagabøte’s national law. Together with a professor and historian from Nord University and UiT The Arctic University of Norway, we are working on developing fines exhibitions at several of our museums.
Dissemination text on fishing and sea hunting in the Viking Age.
Fishing techniques in the Viking Age
Fishing and the exploitation of marine resources were important economic activities for coastal communities in the Viking Age.
Boathouse at Lofotr Viking museum
Dissemination text on boathouses. Boathouse were and remain an important part of the maritime cultural landscape of Lofoten.
Related Exhibits
Tiny Doll in bed
Perhaps the oldest toy in our collection. A doll mother and her baby
Uniform telegraph operator
Black uniform jacket and trousers for telegraph operator. The uniform is part of the collection of the Hurtigruten Museum.
Bustone
Folk medicine mixed together the mundane and the magical to cure illness.
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