Rare 14th-Century Gauntlet Discovered in Oslo's Ancient Harbor

medieval knightPhoto byHenry HustavaonUnsplash

Archaeologists have unearthed a truly exceptional find-the remains of a rare 14th-century iron gauntlet, a treasure from Oslo’s medieval past. This remarkable discovery, part of the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research's ongoing investigation of the historic harbor area, has unveiled a wealth of artifacts from Oslo’s early days.

The gauntlet, a piece of armor used to protect the hands and wrists of knights and soldiers, was found approximately 40 meters out in the harbor, suggesting it may have been lost from a ship. The mystery deepens as NIKU archaeologist Håvard Hegdal remarks:

We have no good explanation for how something like that could have happened.

The gauntlet’s location and the surrounding archaeological context suggest it might have been lost during a significant quick clay slide around 1380, which caused layers of blue clay to settle over the area.

Oslo, founded as a medieval city and harbor around 1050, has a rich history, including its relocation across the bay in 1624 after a devastating fire. Over the centuries, the old harbor has been developed and expanded into the bay, leaving behind a trove of artifacts buried in the harbor’s mud and clay. Previous excavations in the area, conducted between 2019 and 2020 and again from 2022 to 2023, have uncovered shipwrecks, ceramics, footwear, ropes, animal bones, and various medieval weapons.

The gauntlet is largely an imprint of the armor, with remnants of small nails and a possible buckle visible in X-rays. Uncovering and preserving such delicate artifacts is a painstaking process that involves careful excavation, documentation, and conservation. While the exact condition and age of the gauntlet remain uncertain, its discovery adds to the growing understanding of Oslo’s medieval history and the lives of those who once inhabited the city. Hegdal explained:

It’s rare to find such early examples of gauntlets because iron corrodes quickly in the ground and was often recycled in the Middle Ages. The fact that any part of the gauntlet has survived at all is remarkable.