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Tønsberg, Norway

. . . THIS MAY TAKE A MOMENT OR TWO . . .

A view of the circular plan of St. Olav's Abbey Church from the second story of the Tønsberg Municipal Library Building across the street. tons42.jpg (24440 bytes)
Curvature of the walls can clearly be seen from ground level as well. tons05.jpg (28331 bytes)
Massive pillar bases must have supported a lofty church. tons06.jpg (31452 bytes)
More circularity in the nave. tons05.jpg (28331 bytes)
This smaller circle is either a sacristy, a baptistry, or more likely a side chapel. tons07.jpg (28562 bytes)
This small side chamber to the side of the main nave may well have served as a sacristy.  tons08.jpg (30936 bytes)
Entryway into the "side chapel". tons30.jpg (27521 bytes)
Another view of the "side chapel". tons31.jpg (29543 bytes)
Circles abound.  This is the largest circular medieval church in mainland Scandinavia!  Other examples are found on Bornholm Island, Denmark -- to the southeast of what is now the Swedish mainland. tons32.jpg (28589 bytes)
The excavation was performed in the 19th century, before "scientific methods" had been fully developed.   Unfortunately, other buildings such as this one, were constructed atop some of the remains, and ALL rubble was discarded without sifting or other scientific examination. tons33.jpg (25610 bytes)
The remaining walls have been capped so that they may be trod upon by local visitors or used as seating in a parklike setting. tons34.jpg (30277 bytes)
Another view of this "sacristy". tons35.jpg (32990 bytes)
A detail view of the entryway into the "sacristy". tons36.jpg (28766 bytes)
Another  view of the "side chapel". tons37.jpg (30752 bytes)
The corners of the pillar bases are worked. tons39.jpg (29294 bytes)
The masonry of the pillar bases shows detailed filler-fitting with smaller stones. tons40.jpg (36096 bytes)
This is a photograph of the Tønsberg Municipal Library building.  The remains of the rest of the cloister are to be found within this building. tons38.jpg (21216 bytes)
Every effort has been made to effectively blend modern library usage with archaeological display.  Here we see part of the cloister floor, with bookcases in the background! tons44.jpg (26798 bytes)
Wall remnants in another area. tons23.jpg (25844 bytes)
Typical rubble fill construction, surrounded by displays and books! tons22.jpg (25445 bytes)
Another view.  The display to the right is a permanent display of the Norbertine presence at Tønsberg. tons17.jpg (23629 bytes)
Yet more wall remnants, artfully worked into the contemplative environs of the library! tons12.jpg (30901 bytes)
The original well of the Abbey, though it is not in its original place . . . tons18.jpg (18564 bytes)
A closeup view of the well. tons19.jpg (21435 bytes)
If you look at the floor carefully, you will see a circular outline just at the base of the stairway.  This was the original position of the Abbey well! tons21.jpg (16641 bytes)
Fit stone construction on the outer walls. tons27.jpg (22703 bytes)
Fill construction within. tons24.jpg (24769 bytes)
More fit stone construction, to a close tolerance. tons28.jpg (24146 bytes)
A sloped stone washing floor.  Floors of this type have been seen in clothes washing rooms, kitchens and breweries at medieval sites. tons20.jpg (26148 bytes)
This is the drainoff rill at the lower edge of the slopinig washing floor. tons43.jpg (25859 bytes)
The gravestone of a merchant found during the Abbey excavation, now on display in the library.  He was in all likelihood a strong financial supporter of the house. tons16.jpg (20205 bytes)
The brass plate for the gravestone display reads "OLAVSKLOSTERET I TØNSBERG.  Premonstratenserkloster fra før 1191.  Viet St. Olav.  Utgravinger utført av Riksantikvaren 18970-1991." Translated: The Olav Abbey in Tønsberg.  Premonstratensian Abbey from before 1191.  Consecrated to St. Olav.  Excavations executed by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage, 1970-1991. tons09.jpg (15629 bytes)
While excavating the medieval ruins, the archaeological team uncovered two ancient burial boats, substantially older than St. Olav's.  The outlines of these boats can be seen, traced on the floor of the library. tons14.jpg (21738 bytes)
The outline of the second boat on the library floor. tons13.jpg (22979 bytes)
The design of the library features many curves, arcs and circles, to recall the curvature of the Abbey Church. tons29.jpg (29210 bytes)
Artwork rendition of the Abbey floorplan, part of the display of Norbertine heritage at Tønsberg. tons15.jpg (21004 bytes)

This is the master plan of the Abbey Church at Tønsberg, taken from the drawing made after the first excavations in 1878, by H. Thorsen.  The drawing aappears in several publications, most notably appearing in Lunde, Øivind: "St. Olavsklostrets kirke : Nordens størate rundkirke", Tønsberg 1971.  

IMTonsborg01.jpg (19121 bytes)

In this photo, we see in the distance, at the opposite shore, the lowland holdings of the Abbey of St. Olav.   Farming was NOT done here before the Abbey was established due to the high concentration of clay in the soil.  It is thought that the Premonstratensians introduced advanced farming methods and tools to this area which enabled them to farm such clay-soils.

tons11.jpg (21183 bytes)