OSLO, Norway, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The unearthing of 44 skeletons at a public works project in an Oslo park has helped locate a 13th century monastery site in Norway.
The skeletons were dug up from a depth of only about 16 inches at the Medieval park site where a concert was held during the weekend, the Aftenposten reported Wednesday.
A project to improve drainage around the old Olav's Church led to the discovery.
Archeologists say the skeletons belonged to a Dominican monastery located in the area from 1240 until the Reformation in 1537.
The discovery of skeletons from women and young children mingled with the monk's remains came as a surprise. But it is not believed the celibate monks could somehow have had families.
"This can be the result of a mix of the churchyard and the Hallvard Cathedral's burial place, which is adjacent. Also, women may have rented a place to live here," said project leader Petter Molaug.
In the 1200s the city had about 3,000 inhabitants, and now their remains are being found, lying in neat rows all facing east -- in order to be facing the right way when Jesus returned on Judgment Day.
