Hegstadmarka burial fields

In Hegstadmarka, there are several large burial mounds, likely from the Iron Age. The Hegstad field is situated on a small rise just east of Stiklestad. From the burial field, you get a good view over the lower part of Verdalen. In Hegstad and the surrounding area of Stiklestad, there are a large number of mounds over 20 meters in diameter - large burial mounds. These may be the largest concentration of such large mounds in the country.

The Burial Field
The burial field at Hegstad contains 13 mounds varying in size from 46 meters to 6 meters. There are 5 of these large monumental burial mounds. The significant concentration of large burial mounds indicates that this area was a center of power out of the ordinary. Between the burial mounds, remains of 4-5 house foundations have been found, dating back to the 900-1000s AD. These houses are arranged around a ring-shaped courtyard, a layout familiar from other Iron Age settlements. The remains of the houses appear as low, elongated mounds forming a depression in the middle.

Around the house foundations, there are about 20 so-called cooking pits, used in connection with food preparation, and some hollow roads.

These structures in Trøndelag all date from the latter part of the younger Iron Age, 0-100s AD. They are interpreted as expressions of early ting organization and legal handling of conflicts. They may also have been barracks; for example, gathering places before Viking raids to the Continent and England.

The Hegstad field with its monumental burial mounds and ring courtyard tells an important story about the time before the Battle of Stiklestad.

Main Thoroughfare until the 17th Century
Today, this area is secluded from main traffic, but just below the terrace runs a country road, likely one of the main thoroughfares from the upper part of Verdal, which was in use until the 17th century. It is said that the army of Saint Olaf (Olav the Holy) traveled to Stiklestad via this road.

Nature and Culture Trail
Hegstadmarka is located approximately 1.5 km east of the cultural center in Verdal. A nature and culture trail with 20 informational signs has been established in the area. There is also abundant plant and animal life in the area.