A Town Shaped by Water? Water Management and the Development of Public Space in Bergen in the Early Medieval Period

Recent excavations in the Vågsbunnen area of Bergen, Norway, reveal that water management systems were integral to the town's development from its inception in the 11th century. These findings challenge previous assumptions by demonstrating that strategies for controlling water—such as drainage and regulation—were employed almost immediately during urban settlement. The study combines archaeological material, written sources, and geological data to analyze how specialized water management systems shaped public spaces and facilitated the rapid expansion of medieval Bergen. This research highlights the pivotal role of water in early urban planning, offering new insights into the evolution of one of Norway's historic UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Underhaug, P. C. (2021). A Town Shaped by Water? Water Management and the Development of Public Space in Bergen in the Early Medieval Period. Environmental Archaeology, 28(1), 22–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/14614103.2021.1935159