Haramsskatten - Gold Treasure from the Roman Empire to Nordøyane
- Marion Solheim
- Apr 3
- 3 min read
Haramsskatten (the Haram treasure) is a remarkable gold treasure that goes all the way back to the Roman Iron Age (0 – 400 AD). Just imagine, the people of Nordøyane must have travelled far, far away!
The Discovery
It was pure luck. It was the fall of 1968, and Haramsøya native Andreas K. Haram was about to install a new septic tank. No one anticipated that this would lead to the discovery of one of the richest burial sites from the 3rd century in Northern Europe. The excavation revealed a cremation grave, dating back to the early Iron Age, filled with extraordinarily valuable grave goods.
A Very Unique Grave
At the site where the septic tank was to be placed, a large stone slab of 2x1 meter. It was discovered about two meters below the surface. When this slab was broken into pieces, the first glimpse of what had been hidden for nearly 1700 years was revealed: a grave that belonged to a powerful individual from Haramsøya.
Want to know more about Haramsøya? Get to know the island here!
Inside the grave, the body had been placed on a funeral pyre, wrapped in a bear skin, and accompanied by various grave goods. The archaeologists found glass drinking vessels and gaming pieces made of bone. After the cremation of the dead person, the remains had been collected in a Roman bronze dish, with gold objects placed on top of the bones. In total, approximately 622 grams of gold were found, including three gold rings, a large gold arm ring, and a gold medallion. Haramsskatten was the largest amount of gold ever found in a 3rd-century grave in Northern Europe.
One Far-travelled Gold Medallion
The gold medallion found in the grave is especially noteworthy. It features images of Roman emperors and an inscription indicating it was minted during the reign of Emperor Constantius II (337–361 AD). Interestingly, the medallion is a copy of Roman gold medallions, made to serve as prestigious gifts from the reigning emperor. Seven such copies have been discovered in Norway. But the Haram medallion is standing out due to its unique design, featuring both Constantius II and Emperor Valens (364-378 AD).
The Roman Era in Europe
The person buried at Haram lived during the Roman period (0–400 AD), a time when the Roman Empire extended as far as present-day Belgium and southern Germany. Constant wars occurred between the Romans and the Germanic tribes north of the Roman frontier. While many of the Roman luxury goods found in Scandinavia are likely war spoils, there was also significant trade and peaceful exchange between the cultures.
Although Roman artifacts were found in Sunnmøre, they were often repurposed in local contexts. The people of Nordøyane didn’t turn very Roman. Instead they adapted Roman symbols and objects to fit regional beliefs and customs. For example, the Roman bronze cauldrons used for cooking on large Roman estates were repurposed as urns for the local Sunnmøre elite's burials.
The Importance of Maritime Routes
The treasures found in the graves of Sunnmøre (there were many of them) point towards extensive contact and trade networks. The sea played a vital role in trade, travel, and cultural exchange. Some graves even included boats, emphasizing the importance of the maritime world in these ancient societies.
Haramsskatten remains one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Norway. It’s shedding light on the wealth and cultural connections of the early Iron Age elite. The stunning grave goods from far away tells a tale about an interconnected world of the ancient Norse and Romans.
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