The researchers were looking for an ancient settlement dating back to the Stone Age. Instead, the archaeologists of the National Historical Museum of Sweden they came across an immense Viking necropolis with 139 gravesdating back to ca 1,200 years ago. Surprisingly, only six percent of the entire site was surveyed.
The excavation operations began in May 2017, starting as simple preliminary work in an area of prehistoric settlement. The municipality of Tvååkerlocated in the Swedish province of Hallandwas planning the construction of a roundabout and the renovation of water pipes, interventions planned in several phases.
As the excavation progressed, it became apparent that the site was hiding something special. Initially, an ancient kiln and various flint tools emerged, but it soon became clear that there was much more. Petra Nordinarchaeologist and director of the project, was among the first to understand the vastness of the archaeological site. Archaeologists have begun to discover Viking Age burials:
We found five graves above a layer of combustion remains, with fragments of human and dog bones. It was then that we realized the presence of a large Viking cemetery.
A strategically positioned necropolis
The necropolis extends over a flat ridge, ideal from a strategic point of view, located along two main trade routes of the time. To the east, the Tvååker River (formerly called Uttran) flows into the sea at Galtabäck. The ancient main road from Spannarp to Gamla Köpstad, used for the transport of iron, also passes through the cemetery, as explained by Nordin, underlining how the interpretation of the remaining elements is based on often fragmentary remains:
The land was plowed and leveled to create pastures, destroying the ancient housing layers and tombs, which are now very damaged. Despite the difficulties, the site continued to yield significant discoveries. During the investigations, we identified the remains of funeral pyres.
Among the most notable discoveries is a 50 meter long naval-shaped stone structure on the ridge, flanked by three other large boat-shaped tombs and a ship-shaped mound. In one of the tombs there were 17 ceramic vessels, human and animal bones, weaving weights and iron arrowheads. Nordin explained:
We usually find dog remains in small, round pyres, while human remains are placed in elongated pyres. The dog was seen as a faithful companion, in life and in death.
Precious objects and intact remains
Among the finds, badly damaged by the fire, stand out buckles, ceramic fragments and a rare Arab silver coin dating back to between 795 and 806 AD, a dating which coincides with that of the oldest tombs on the site.
Bones of birds, dogs, cows and pigs were also found, along with human remains. During burials, the deceased were often cremated and unburned animal remains placed on top before finally closing the tomb. The researchers hypothesize that these were offerings of food.
Scholars believe the people buried here lived in a nearby Viking-era village. The exact location of this settlement is still a mystery, but it is hypothesized that it could have been near Gamla Köpstad or in the port of Galtabäck, at the mouth of the Tvååker River.
Nordin concluded by expressing enthusiasm for future developments:
We don’t know for sure where the ancient village is, but we’re eager to find out what emerges.
