The Early Iron Age Farm Museum
If you want to learn something about Norwegian history you can check out Stavanger’s archaeological museum. This can be combined with Jernaldergården (the Iron Age farm). This is a reconstruction of a farm built in the Iron Age. If you go there it is worth contacting a guide so that he/she can talk you through it. This farm was rebuilt in the 70s based on findings that date back to 300-500 AD. You can look around, and on Sundays there are often demonstrations of various old skills and food cooked on the open fire. It is connected to the Archeological Museum, and you can go there free after a visit here.
The hearths are the original ones and are still in use. This contributes to great authenticity and provides a valuable experience of the past. There are demonstrations of handicraft techniques, and scientific archaeological experiments are performed on site.
The mistress of the house will give you a tour of the farmstead, and if you are lucky, you will be able to taste her fresh “hellekake”, a type of flat bread baked on a slab of stone. It will fill you with a strange feeling to sit here like this, knowing that a family was sitting around this very fire-place 1500 years ago. The Iron Age Farm is a foundation placed under the Museum of Archaeology in Stavanger.
It is located at the top of Ullandhaug, 3 km from the centre of Stavanger, and it affords a fantastic view of North Jæren and of Hafrsfjord where King Harald Fairhair fought the battle that united Norway into one kingdom around 900 AD. A monument called "Sverd i fjell" has been erected at the shores of Hafrsfjord in memory of the unification. "Sverd i fjell", roughly translated, means "Swords in mountain".
Also nearby a series of festivals and congresses of international fame and profile are arranged, such as The Chamber Music Festival and The Maijazz Festival in Stavanger. The Concert Hall and Music Complex at Bjergsted and the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra provide important inspiration in the Norwegian musical environment.
Visiting address:
Ullandhaugveien 165
Tel: +47 51 83 26 00
E-mail: jernaldergarden@ark.museum.no
Operations Supervisor
Office address: Peder Klowsgt 30a, N-4010 Stavanger
Tel: +47 488 99 021
Kaja.Storaker@ark.museum.no
Postal address:
Postboks 478
N-4002 Stavanger
Norway
Internet: http://www.jernaldergarden.no
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