Extensive excavations have revealed a number of exciting Viking Age finds in the Swedish county of Västmanland.
The work was carried out prior to the construction of a new section of motorway in central Sweden. Now, a newly published book tells the story of the research.
A boon for archeologists
In Sweden, it is compulsory to carry out preliminary archeological excavations before the completion of any major construction project in Västmanland County.
When the plans were announced to convert the E18 road between Köping and Västjädra, Arkeologerna, the archeological unit of the Swedish State Historical Museums, was assigned to investigate a total of nine locations.
Most of these investigations were carried out in 2021 and 2022, and three of the sites were particularly noteworthy.
The first, a cremation site from the Viking Age in Rallsta near Hallstahammar, consists of a small reshaped hill and two large funeral pyres.
The second, in Munktorp parish, features Viking Age stone settings that were built into an older, Vendel-era burial mound. The third, at Sylta outside Köping, is a Viking Age burial ground active from the 9th century to the start of the 13th century.
- READ MORE: The Viking history of Sweden at a glance
Iron bridle fitting from a Viking Age horse burial at Sylta. Photo: Arkeologerna, CC BY
Revealing generations of history
Together, the discoveries have helped archeologists develop a more accurate picture of historical life in the region.
"The locations are exciting, but the whole is the most interesting thing," commented the project manager, Fredrik Larsson, in a recent press release.
"We have a long cross-section through several villages at the same time. This gives us the opportunity to understand how society and the landscape have changed over generations."
At the Munktorp site, the placement of Viking Age stone settings on a burial ground from the Vendel period (approximately 540–790 CE) suggests a notable degree of continuity that Larsson believes could suggest a prolonged dominance of a particular dynasty.
"There are only a handful of places like this in Sweden, so it is very unusual," Larsson stated.
"In one grave, both a woman and a man are buried, but we do not know what their relationship was. We do not know whether they both belonged to a specific armed group or whether one of them was sacrificed in connection with the burial."
The Sylta site, on the other hand, indicates a close link between the Viking residents and their horses.
"In nearly 30 graves from the 11th century, there were horses that had been cremated with their owners, and several of them had fantastic horse equipment," Larsson said in the press release.
"They are found in both male and female graves and are very rich and well-preserved. One can wonder whether the horse equipment functioned as a kind of local livery, because the horses had their own fittings."
"These include pendants with many different shapes and many bells, so that the horses and riders could be both seen and heard."
Bead set from a Viking Age grave at Rallsta, Västmanland County. Photo: Arkeologerna, CC BY
Laying out the story
The excavations have also revealed plenty of other insights into Viking Age life, including evidence of agricultural work, bread baking, and ironmongery.
At another site, an ancient farm was unearthed very close to the largest rock carving in Häljesta County. Although the investigations are now concluded, it is hoped that the findings will continue to help historians and archeologists form an ever more sophisticated understanding of the habits and rituals of Viking Age Sweden.
A new book, People, Meetings and Memories – Archaeology along the E18 in Västmanland, has recently been published (in Swedish).
The book, which was funded by the Swedish Transport Administration, tells the story of the excavations and explores the finds in detail, as well as other related archeological research.
Local residents or visitors can pick up a copy of the book at Västmanland County Museum or the Köping City Museum, though a PDF copy of the book is also available for download.
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