Verdal     14.09.2001       Østre Haug gård / farm

SURVEY

The survey was carried out by farmer Trond Arne Wiseth, the owner of the effected field.  The total length of the pattern was measured at approximately fifty metres. The formation was first discovered in this mature and dry barley field during the night of the 14^th of September. The field where the circle appeared is sloping towards the nearby road 757, and was clearly visible from the road. No traces of human activity were found in the field.

In 2003 when representative of Norwegian Crop Circle Group, Eva-Marie Brekkestø travelled to the region; she was made privy to some very intriguing information regarding the field and the surrounding landscape:

Østre Haug farm is located near the famous Norwegian place Stiklestad where an important battle took place in 1033 AD. The Norwegian King Olav the 1st, known as “Olav the Holy”, died in the battle after a many years’ failed attempt to christianize the country. His local seat was the Østre Haug farm. When Norway was finally christianized by his son some years later, a church was built nearby, at the location of the local pagan cult site.

The field where the crop circle appeared, is situated only 200 metres away from the site of this first Christian church built in the area. The field is also surrounded by several pre-Christian burial mounds from the Viking age.

But most amazing of all: Thirty years ago another burial mound, situated in the middle of the field, was excavated. This mound was the grave of a Viking chief buried in his ship. After the excavation the remains of the mound was removed and the ground was levelled out. Thus at the surface there are no visible traces of the mound today, and not many people remember the exact location of the mound. Amazingly, the crop circle was placed at the exact spot in the field where the ship grave was located!

(For a detailed map of the area with the historical sites, see the Norwegian section of this web site.)