In recent years, a 3000 year old bronzeaxe ([1]) and 2500-year-old bronze collar has been found at the Trondenes peninsula, just north of the city center. This, together with the burial cairns built close to the sea, is powerful indications that the most northern well developted bronze age culture (agriculture, use of bronze) took place in the Harstad-area.
There are substantial archeological evidens of a well developted iron age culture in the area, dating back to appr 200 AD.
Trondenes is often mentioned in the Heimskringla as a powercentre in the viking age and a place to meet to discuss important issues (Trondarting). Trondenes Church, the world's most northern medieval church, from the 13th–15th century, is situated just outside the town. Nearby there is the Trondenes Historical Center and the Adolf Gun ([2]), an enormous gun from World War II.
In 2004, the town celebrated its 100th anniversary. The town hosts the annual "The Festival of North Norway" a week in length.
