Olaf 2030 advocates for the archaeological recovery of the lost remains of Norway's patron saint, Olaf Haraldsson II. The remains of St. Olaf were previously held inside a magnificent shrine visible to the public in Nidaros cathedral, Trondheim. However, in 1568 Danish authorities destroyed his shrine, and St. Olaf's body was hidden beneath the floor inside of the cathedral, where he has remained separated from pilgrims, worshippers and the general public ever since.

Dr. Øystein Ekroll, lead archaeologist at Nidaros cathedral, has found a possible location of St. Olaf's body. In 2014, the Nidaros Cathedral Restoration Workshop conducted georadar scans with archaeologists from NTNU that confirmed an anomaly in the same location that Dr. Ekroll believes St. Olaf to be. We hope to demonstrate that an excavation to examine these findings is of great interest to the general public.

2030 will mark 1,000 years since Olaf the Holy was martyred at the Battle of Stiklestad, and we advocate for the recovery of his lost remains on the eve of Norway's National Jubilee.

Who was St. Olaf? Visit our website: www.Olaf2030.com

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In advocating for the recovery of St. Olaf's lost remains, we are guided by the principle that “public outreach and engagement in archaeology should be holistic, meaningful and a primary component of our scientific research design—and this includes all projects, from the beginning.” ​— Society for Historical Archaeology

Through public engagement and measured advocacy, we support a reverential recovery of St. Olaf’s remains; once prominently enshrined but since hidden from visitors for over four centuries. We seek to encourage conditions in which such work may be undertaken mindfully, with due respect for history, faith, and the integrity of Nidaros Cathedral.