Researchers recently uncovered a long-lost medieval convent in an unusual location in Denmark: a soccer field — with an expert sharing details with Fox News Digital about the "rare" find. The discovery, made in Roskilde, was announced last month by ROMU, a state-recognized Danish museum organization.St.Clare's Convent, which was built in the 13th century, was found through a ground-penetrating radar survey ahead of plans to build an underground parking facility.FORBIDDEN PASSAGE? SECRET MEDIEVAL TUNNEL FOUND BENEATH ANCIENT PAGAN GRAVES, ARCHAEOLOGISTS SAY"The survey revealed a well-preserved convent complex approximately one meter [three feet] below ground level," officials said in a press release.The scans also "revealed traces of the convent’s buildings, including rooms, columns, cloisters and a church in the southern wing," officials said.Researchers in Roskilde, Denmark, have discovered the remains of a long-lost medieval convent beneath a modern soccer field.
(Nationalmuseet/NIKU; Jesper Langkilde/ROMU)"The eastern wing, in particular, is exceptionally well-preserved, with clearly defined rooms and vault pillars," the statement said.St.Clare's was one of five monastic sites in medieval Roskilde.
Unlike the other four, it was not protected as an ancient monument because it was believed to have been lost.ARCHAEOLOGISTS UNEARTH REMNANTS OF FORGOTTEN CITY 'MARKED BY CONFLICT' BURIED BELOW BUSTLING HUBResearchers are working with the municipality on plans for trial excavations at the proposed parking site.Excavations of monasteries and convents are "rare," said Jesper Langkilde, an archaeologist and museum curator at ROMU.Langkilde told Fox News Digital he was "quite surprised" by the discovery.St.Clare's Convent, built in the 13th century, was identified through a ground-penetrating radar survey in Roskilde.
(Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images; Nationalmuseet / NIKU)"I almost didn’t believe my own eyes that so much was still there, and that we...