ANGELA YOUNGMAN reports on the recent find beneath Stavanger Cathedral…
Norwich, UK
Archaeologists have discovered a lost medieval reliquary belonging to St Swithun, Stavanger’s patron saint, during an excavation of a crypt below the south-western Norwegian city’s cathedral.
St Swithun was a 9th century Anglo-Saxon Bishop of Winchester, England. His death is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 861 and soon gained a reputation for working miracles such as restoring a basket of eggs that had been maliciously broken.
Stavenger Cathedral in Norway. PICTURE: Supplied.
More than 40 churches are dedicated to him across southern England and western Norway, including Winchester Cathedral. The link with Stavanger developed around 1100, when a Winchester monk Reinald was appointed as the first Bishop of Stavanger Cathedral. He took with him the arm bone of St Swithun. The new cathedral authorities created a decorated gold casket to hold the relic, placing it on the high altar. Records indicate it was still there in the early 16th century.
Ivory figurines including Melchior, one of the Three Kings, found in the cathedral crypt. PICTURE: Supplied
The reliquary was believed to have been destroyed during the Reformation, with some reports suggesting it was melted down in Denmark. It was not until 2023 that a chance discovery of a 700-year-old ivory carving of Melchior, one of the Three Kings who visited Jesus at His birth, indicated that there might be other hidden secrets within the crypt.
Dr Margareth Hana Buer, senior researcher and archaeologist at the Museum of Archaeology at the University of Stavanger, told Sight that “the crypt of the northern tower was the only part of the cathedral that had not been archaeologically investigated and was never part of the archaeological plan for excavation”.
“During a clear up of the floor the small ivory figurine was found in the rubbish. This caused great excitement because the northern tower was, and still is today, the bishop’s sacristy.”
This meant that it would have been the most likely place for precious liturgical items – and relics – to be locked away when not in use. An archaeological excavation of the site began.
“The reliquary fragment was found within a stone structure known as ‘the bishop’s grave’,” said Buer. “The structure had been disturbed and probably refilled with debris at some point in history. A lead seal from a papal bull from Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) was found within the same stone structure.”
An x-ray revealing the reliquary fragment featuring a church building complete with tower, roof, columns and windows which is believed to be linked to the reliquary of St Swithun. PICTURE: Supplied.
Patterns could be seen on the corroded fragment of gilded copper plate, but when x-rayed it became clear that it would have been from a high status object. The resultant image showed a church building complete with tower and roof, columns and windows reminiscent of the cathedral. The panel would have been nailed to a wooden reliquary box, together with other decorated panels covering the entire container giving the impression of a golden casket.
“There are no historical sources which indicate that the St Swithun’s Cathedral in Stavanger was ever a medieval pilgrimage destination. We do interpret some of the finds (such as the cut glass jewels and the silver medallion) as part of the adornments on the reliquary,” said Buer.
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No further finds are anticipated as the excavation has now come to an end. The archaeologists have excavated as deep as they could without destabilising the ground and reached the construction layer.
Lead seal from a Papal bull of Boniface VIII. PICTURE: Supplied
Stavanger Cathedral and the Museum of Archaeology are now working towards the 900 year jubilee celebrations in 2025. The cathedral has been closed for several years for extensive renovation, refurbishment, conservation and archaeological excavation. It will reopen in August 2024.
Work is now underway to conserve the fragment and other items discovered during the excavation before placing them on public display in the Jubilee exhibition at the Museum of Archaeology next spring.
“We are excited to have the opportunity to exhibit to the public the wonderful artefacts from the northern tower and to tell the story of the secrets of St Swithun’s Cathedral,” Buer noted.
