– Scientists have analyzed the bones of a man found in a well at Sverresborg Castle in Norway from 1938.
– This fits with a passage from the 800-year-old Norse saga Sverris Saga, which describes invaders throwing a dead body into the castle well.
– DNA analysis found the bones belong to a man aged 30-40 from southern Norway, hundreds of km from the castle. He had light hair/eyes and ate seafood.
– Carbon dating showed he died around 1197 CE, matching the saga’s account of an invasion then.
– This is the first time remains have been directly linked to an event described in a Norse saga.
– The research demonstrates how modern genomic analysis can unlock secrets from ancient bones and connect them to historical texts.
– It provides rare tangible evidence affirming details from a medieval Norse literary source. Studying more remains can enhance understanding of the past.
Source: Science Alert
