The video follows a conservator from the Museum of Cultural History (University of Oslo) as she travels to the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland, with four medieval objects. Found during archaeological excavations in Norway, these objects will be analysed in one of the world’s most advanced research facilities. Classified as semiotic-material text culture, the objects in the depicted research constitute some of the earliest text sources found in Norway. In addition to inscriptions in runes, our earliest writing system, a lead amulet (C60965/037) was found to bear words and meaningful expressions in Greek, Latin and ancient Hebrew. 

Research at PSI entails the use of a proton reactor capable of feeding computed tomography X-ray devices with a stream of cold neutrons. Computed tomography is commonly referred to as a CT scan. A CT scan is a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of X-rays and computer technology to produce images of the inside of the body or object. It shows detailed images of the internal material of the object.

Get in touch for a personal link to the full film. Premiered at Galleri F15 October 22nd 2023. 
Photos, installation: Eivind Lauritzen, F15
Cinematography, editing: Carsten Aniksdal

Audio: Petrine Vinje | Carsten Aniksdal | Steinar E. Rossing
Vocals: Sofia Jernberg
Thanks to: Museum of Cultural History (University of Oslo), Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland
Funded by: Fond for Lyd og bilde, Kulturrådet, Kunsthøgskolen i Oslo