Possible royal ship grave found in Norway

Published June 28, 2024 – By Editorial staff
The ship's grave is linked to legends from the Viking Age.

A Viking ship has been found at Jarlsberg Manor in Norway. Archaeologists believe it may have been a ship grave for a Viking king.

In 2018, a metal detector survey began at Jarlsberg Manor in Norway, the historic home of the Wedel-Jarlsberg family and the Count and Countess of Jarlsberg, who headed the county of the same name. Using the metal detector, the archaeologists found rivets that could indicate that a Viking ship was buried at the manor.

After two weeks of digging, it was determined that there was indeed a Viking ship there.

– We can now say for certain that yes, here lie the remains of a Viking ship. This discovery adds a new landmark to the map, once a significant site during the Viking Age, excavation director Christian Løchsen Rødsrud told Science Norway.

The archaeologists found 70 rivets during the excavation, but the metal detector returned so many that they believe the ground contains hundreds, if not thousands, of rivets. These rivets could have held together planks about an inch thick, suggesting they were part of a large ship. However, some of the rivets were horse crampons, nails attached to a horse's hooves to allow it to walk on icy surfaces.

– Finding horse crampons in the material suggests that the rest of the grave goods are also in the field, he says.

The son of Harald Hårfager?

Archaeologists believe that this may have been a ship grave for the Viking king Bjørn Farmann, but it is still unclear who is buried on the ship. According to Snorri's sagas, Bjørn Farmann, son of Harald Fairhair, was killed by his brother Erik Blodyx on the farm Sæheimr around 934. This is now the village of Sem, close to Jarlsberg Manor.

– It would’ve been exciting to find out more about the person buried here, says the archaeologist.

However, the archaeologists are not surprised by the find. 100 years ago, archaeologist A.W. Brøgger found another grave nearby, and he was convinced that there was a ship buried somewhere in the area.

– It is not overly surprising that a Viking ship would have been buried at Jarlsberg, as the site is part of a rich cultural landscape with many burial grounds, indicating a place of importance, Rødsrud told All That's Interesting.

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Norwegian dairy giant pauses Bovaer after reports of sick cows

Published today 11:34 am – By Editorial staff

The Norwegian dairy organization Norsk Melkeråvare has temporarily halted the use of the feed additive Bovaer. The decision comes following reports from Denmark about cows falling ill after receiving the additive, and Norwegian incidents have also been reported.

Arla's methane-reducing feed supplement began being introduced last year and today has been tested in countries including the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. However, consumers have protested strongly against Bovaer, as the effects on animals and the final product remain unknown – many have therefore boycotted Arla or products from cows given Bovaer.

Recently, several dairy farmers in Denmark have raised alarms about their cows becoming sick after starting with Bovaer. Among them, farmer Huibert van Dorp recently reported that his cows became acutely ill, with one dying suddenly. He argues that the supplement violates animal welfare laws as it causes suffering to the animals.

"More knowledge"

Now the Norwegian dairy organization Norsk Melkeråvare has temporarily halted the use of the feed additive. This is partly due to the Danish farmers' warnings, but Norwegian milk producers have also reported incidents.

"We have decided to pause until we have more knowledge", writes Norsk Melkeråvare according to All About Feed, which emphasizes that the decision is based on the precautionary principle.

In November, a major British study concluded in which Arla tested the supplement on 30 dairy farms, but the results have not yet been evaluated.

A new meeting regarding the matter will be held in January between the milk producer and the contracting parties, according to the Norwegian government.

In Sweden, Bovaer is used by a number of farms, but many have chosen to forgo the supplement. On Mejerikollen, consumers can find a guide to which companies use the so-called climate-smart supplement.

China’s cultural gem Jiangsu visited Stockholm

Published November 24, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Chinese and Swedish artists united east and west in a poetic musical dialogue between the nyckelharpa, guzheng and bamboo flute.

A colorful cultural and tourism event showcasing the unique traditions, crafts, and modern charm of Jiangsu Province took place in Stockholm on November 7.

The Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Chinese Cultural Center in Stockholm hosted an inspiring event where visitors experienced China's cultural heritage through music, tea, crafts, and interactive activities reflecting both history and the present day.

The highlight was a concert where Chinese and Swedish artists united East and West in a poetic musical dialogue between nyckelharpa (a traditional Swedish keyed fiddle), guzheng (Chinese zither), and bamboo flute, an interpretation of the spirit of "water," the symbol of Jiangsu's elegance and cultural depth.

The Cultural Center was filled with visitors who sampled tea, enjoyed exhibitions, and explored opportunities for future collaborations. Many were fascinated by Jiangsu's combination of tradition, innovation, and artistic finesse.

At the same time, the exhibition Canal Reflections & Craft Revival was displayed with three thematic rooms: The Taste of Tea, The Rhythm of Silk, and The Color of Porcelain. In the tea room, classical paintings such as Huishan Gathering created a poetic atmosphere, where the renowned green tea Biluochun and Yixing clay vessels offered a taste of Jiangnan's refined culture. Jiangsu Phoenix Publishing Group also presented the English edition of The Taste of Chinese Plants, which was shown to an international audience for the first time.

In the silk theme, a sculptural Dala horse created from silk cocoons stood as a symbol of the meeting between Chinese and Swedish craftsmanship. Photo: The Nordic Times

Suzhou Silk Museum and the brand Taihu Snow displayed joint creations where historical patterns met modern design. Additionally, Suzhou University's digital laboratory for traditional crafts demonstrated its new color digitalization system for the kesi embroidery technique, alongside a demonstration by young Suzhou embroidery artists.

A woman from Jiangsu Province displayed her craft of embroidered silk art. Photo: The Nordic Times

In the porcelain section, elegant Yixing celadon and ceramic art from Gaochun were displayed, a modern interpretation of the spirituality of water and the symbolism of color in Chinese aesthetics.

Stephen Brawer, chairman of the Belt & Road Institute in Sweden, gave a speech about Chinese culture and general development and how the country has succeeded in eradicating poverty for nearly 800 million people. Photo: The Nordic Times

Jiangsu is a province that unites tradition, innovation, and sustainable tourism, something that more and more Swedish travelers are discovering. The event is part of Jiangsu's international program for cultural and tourism promotion, with the goal of creating new bridges in tourism, education, and cultural exchange.

— We want to invite our Swedish friends to discover Jiangsu's beauty, not just as a destination, but as a cultural experience that touches all the senses, says Qian Ning from the Jiangsu Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.

From November 10, 2025, a visa-free arrangement applies for Swedish citizens traveling to China for stays of up to 30 days, a new opportunity to experience Jiangsu's charm up close.

Guzheng – the ancient unique stringed instrument

The guzheng is a Chinese stringed instrument with a history spanning over 2,500 years. The earliest variants emerged during the Warring States period and evolved to become a popular instrument at courts, ceremonies and banquets during the Qin and Han dynasties. The instrument's design changed gradually; it gained more strings and improved resonance, which enabled greater expressiveness and musical variation.​

Particularly during the Tang dynasty, the guzheng's role flourished within both classical and folk music, and several technical innovations made the instrument even more versatile. During the 20th century, new materials were introduced in the strings, and standardized forms were developed to meet the demands of modern music. Today, the guzheng is one of China's most beloved and widely used traditional instruments.

Norwegian mayor raises alarm over refugee policy

Migration crisis in Europe

Published November 21, 2025 – By Editorial staff

Four out of five kroner in social assistance goes to refugees in the Norwegian city of Sarpsborg. Now the municipality's mayor is criticizing Norway's integration policy and calling it a failure, citing a new municipal report.

In the Norwegian city of Sarpsborg, with approximately 60,000 inhabitants, a new municipal report has revealed figures sparking debate. A full 79.1 percent of the financial social assistance paid out during 2024 went to refugees.

Mayor Magnus Arnesen from the Conservative Party (Høyre) is now taking a strong stance against the Norwegian state's integration policy.

The municipal director presents figures that I believe show that integration policy in Norway is not working. It is inadequate, the mayor tells Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

The report also shows that half of the immigrants in the municipality have a refugee background, compared to one-third at the national level. Over the past 15 years, the number of immigrants in Sarpsborg has increased by 132 percent, from 6,115 to 15,140 people.

According to Arnesen, the problems are partly due to how the Norwegian refugee reception system is designed. Refugees granted residence permits are initially settled in a municipality but are free to move after five years without losing their introduction benefits.

Many then choose to move to larger cities like Sarpsborg, Fredrikstad, or Drammen – so-called secondary settlement. The problem is that they arrive without work and without the state funding that municipalities receive for primary settlement.

Disagrees

This week, Labor and Integration Minister Kjersti Stenseng from the Labor Party (Arbeiderpartiet) met with the mayors of Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad to discuss the problems.

But she disagrees with Arnesen that integration policy has failed.

No, I don't agree with that. We have many good examples of people who come to this country, learn the language, and find work, says Stenseng.

Norwegian experts sound alarm over weight-loss medication

Published November 18, 2025 – By Editorial staff

More and more people are using weight-loss medications to lose weight. Now Norwegian experts are sounding the alarm that these drugs may trigger a new form of eating disorder – a so-called "dieting disorder" where patients become trapped in destructive behavior.

The use of various weight-loss medications has increased in many countries recently, with drugs like Wegovy and the type 2 diabetes medication Ozempic increasingly being used for weight loss. These drugs have gained traction because they contain semaglutide, which increases the feeling of satiety.

Danish experts have previously warned that this type of medication can worsen and even trigger various types of eating disorders, with a larger proportion of patients taking the medication in a destructive manner. Now Norwegian experts in the field are also stepping forward, noting that there is an entirely new patient group – those who cannot stop taking weight-loss medications.

We're getting quite a few people coming to us after having taken weight-loss medication for a while who say they can no longer control it themselves, but they don't dare stop taking the medication because they will then gain weight, says psychologist Bente Sommerfeldt to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK.

"Dieting disorder"

Sommerfeldt specializes in eating disorders and says that more and more people in the field are talking about how the growing market for obesity medications has triggered what may become a new diagnosis.

We are on the verge of getting yet another eating disorder, which we might call dieting disorder.

General practitioners also see risks with the use of weight-loss medication and believe that there is currently no good method for actually stopping it once you've started.

At present, we have no good method for stopping this medication. The most important thing is therefore that we speak clearly with patients, says Torgeir Hoff Skavøy, who is chairman of the Norwegian Association of General Practitioners.

Cathrine M Lofthu, who heads the Norwegian Directorate of Health, says they take the experts' warnings very seriously and that we must recognize this is a social problem.

We have created a society where it is difficult to make good choices, she says.