Archaeologists discover lost Christian monastery in Iceland
A team of 10 Icelandic and British archaeologists have discovered a long-lost monastery, and they're describing the discovery as a "jackpot."
The archaeologists used ultrasound technology to discover the Þykkvabær cloister's remains in Alftaver, an area of South Iceland. The unusually large monastery was home to Augustine monks during the Middle Ages, from 1168 until 1550.
The find was especially notable because historians previously believed the cloister's remains were at a different site.
Article continues belowThe Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"I think we've just hit the jackpot," archaeology professor Steinunn Kristjansdottir told Iceland's Stoo 2 TV network, according to a translation from the Iceland Review. "It came as a complete surprise."
