Amateur treasure hunter finds lost medieval monastery with 6.5-foot-thick walls that baffled archaeologists
A mysterious symbol on an 18th-century map has led to one of Sweden’s most remarkable archaeological discoveries in decades.
What started as a hobby project turned into a find that left veteran archaeologists speechless.
The Map That Started It All
Göran Bengtsson wasn’t looking for fame when he started studying old Swedish maps. The history enthusiast was simply indulging his passion for the past.
But one particular symbol caught his eye on a 1760 map – a strange rectangle that seemed out of place.
The location was marked as “Klosterkullen,” meaning “monastery hill” in Swedish. Most people would have shrugged it off as historical curiosity.
Bengtsson decided to investigate.
When Hobbyists Meet Science
Armed with his metal detector, Bengtsson headed to the field in Derome, southwest Sweden. What he found there prompted him to contact professional archaeologists immediately.
The Swedish archaeological organization Arkeologerna responded to his alert with ground-penetrating radar equipment.
The technology can reveal hidden structures beneath the earth’s surface without disturbing the ground.
Perfect Timing and Ancient Secrets
The timing of Bengtsson’s discovery couldn’t have been better. He visited the site during a particularly dry summer day.
Dry conditions create what archaeologists call “crop marks” – subtle differences in vegetation that can reveal buried structures.
“When the ground is dry, something called crop marks can form, and these walls are very visible above ground,” explained archaeologist Bengt Westergaard.
The ground-penetrating radar confirmed what the crop marks suggested – something significant lay buried beneath the Swedish field.
A Veteran’s Amazement
Westergaard has spent four decades uncovering Sweden’s archaeological treasures. He’s seen countless discoveries and excavations.
But this find left him stunned.
“I have worked as an archaeologist for 40 years, and this is something unique,” Westergaard said. “I have never seen anything like it; the walls were very clearly visible.”
The radar revealed dark spots indicating substantial structures below ground. The anomaly was significant enough to warrant immediate investigation.
The Monastery Emerges
What Bengtsson and the archaeologists uncovered defied expectations. The monastery walls measured an impressive 6.5 feet thick – a testament to medieval construction techniques.
The structure appears to be the eastern wing and dormitory of a 12th-century monastery. Experts believe the thick walls were foundations for massive pillars that once supported the building.
The monastery dates back to the late 1100s and may be the original location of Ås Abbey, a significant Cistercian monastery.
Historical records show that Ås Abbey was relocated in the 13th century. A letter from 1243 documents the abbot’s request to move the monastery to a new location.
The discovery adds another chapter to Sweden’s rich archaeological heritage, joining recent finds including 12th-century graves with buried treasure and Viking-era coffins dating back over 1,100 years.
Sometimes the most remarkable discoveries come from the curiosity of amateur enthusiasts who refuse to let mysterious map symbols remain unexplained.
