A section from the Norse Sverris Saga, an 800-year-old narrative about King Sverre Sigurdsson, recounts a military attack that took place in AD 1197. During this raid, a body was allegedly tossed into a well at Sverresborg Castle, near Trondheim in central Norway, likely in an attempt to contaminate the main water supply to the local population. A recent study published in the journal iScience on October 25 details how researchers utilized ancient DNA to validate the saga’s account and gather insights about the “Well-man,” merging historical narratives with archaeological findings and scientific methods, paving the way for further explorations into historical figures.
A section from the Norse Sverris Saga, an 800-year-old narrative about King Sverre Sigurdsson, recounts a military attack that took place in AD 1197. During this raid, a body was allegedly tossed into a well at Sverresborg Castle, near Trondheim in central Norway, likely in an attempt to contaminate the main water supply to the local population. A recent study published in the journal iScience on October 25 details how researchers utilized ancient DNA to validate the saga’s account and gather insights about the “Well-man,” merging historical narratives with archaeological findings and scientific methods, paving the way for further explorations into historical figures.
“This marks the first instance where a person cited in historical texts has been actually identified,” says Professor Michael D. Martin from the University Museum at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, Norway. “There are numerous medieval and ancient remains scattered throughout Europe, and genomic techniques are increasingly being employed to examine them.”
In 1938, bones were discovered in the well at Sverresborg Castle, but at that time, researchers could only conduct basic visual assessments due to limited technology. Today, radiocarbon dating and advanced genomic sequencing have enabled scientists to develop a more detailed understanding of the Well-man. Radiocarbon dating revealed the remains to be around 900 years old, and analyses from 2014 and 2016 confirmed that the individual was a male, aged between 30 and 40 at the time of his demise.
“The text isn’t entirely accurate — our findings indicate that the actual situation is far more intricate than described,” remarks archaeologist Anna Petersén from the Norwegian Institute of Cultural Heritage Research in Oslo, Norway.
“We can verify the events in a more unbiased manner,” states Dr. Martin Rene Ellegaard from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology. As part of his doctoral research, Ellegaard sampled a tooth from the Well-man’s skeleton to sequence his genome. This investigation revealed that he likely had blue eyes and either blond or light-brown hair, with ancestry tracing back to what is now the southernmost Norwegian county of Vest-Agder.
The team was able to deduce details about the Well-man’s heritage thanks to a wealth of reference genomic data from contemporary Norwegians, in collaboration with Professor Agnar Helgason at deCODE Genetics in Iceland. “Much of our work relies on having reference data,” Ellegaard explains. “Thus, the more ancient genomes we sequence alongside modern individuals, the better our future analyses will be.”
“These reference datasets include thousands of genomes from modern Norwegians as well as many thousands from other European populations,” adds Martin.
Nevertheless, this technology comes with its constraints. Analyzing the Well-man’s genome meant removing the outer layer of his tooth to prevent contamination from anyone who had touched it in less-than-sterile conditions during excavation. The tooth was then ground into powder, which precluded any further testing, and researchers were unable to identify any pathogens that the Well-man might have had at the time of his passing.
“We had to strike a balance between eliminating surface contamination from handlers and ensuring we preserved some potential pathogens … there are numerous ethical challenges,” explains Ellegaard. “We must consider the types of tests we’re conducting now, as they may restrict our future options.”
The team expresses interest in examining samples from other historical figures. “The esteemed Norwegian Saint Olaf is believed to be buried somewhere within Trondheim Cathedral,” notes Martin. “Thus, if his remains are eventually located, there may be efforts to physically describe him and trace his ancestry using genetic sequencing.”
Regarding this innovative fusion of history and science, Petersén concludes, “It’s a remarkable achievement showcasing the potential of Ellegaard and Martin’s methodology in archaeology, particularly in such a unique or rare context.”
