Ancient Natural Sacred Sites in Gävleborg Region, Sweden
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ävleborg County has been inhabited since the Stone Age. There is OTHER SACRED PLACES IN THE REGION TO VISIT GStone Age settlements that are 9000 years old. During the Bronze Age, large stone cairns were built along the coast. The Iron Age is prominent 15 S:T OLOFS SPRING IN JÄRVSÖ with a large amount of graves and settlements. The parishes were Along the road Kalvstigen, between Järvsö and conformed during the Middle Ages. Gävleborg is the Swedish county Delsbo, and then a small road to the Southeast most rich in forest. The forest, the Baltic Sea coast, farming and the iron N 6841487 E 565304 have formed the history and is still visible in the cultural sites. According to tradition the spring has magical The route goes along the county coast from the south towards the north. power, and King Olov baptized a lot of locals here It starts in Gävle city and ends in Gnarp parish. It contains sites both in the on his way to Norway. 6 9 10 forest, in a coastal environment and in the rural landscape. There are sacred springs, ancient graves, runic stones and many other sites. 12 SKINNLIPPssTENEN 6 KLAPERN IN NoRRALA 9 THE ANCIENT CULT PLACE CENTRE In the area of Tallåsen, North of Ljusdal. On the Next to the road between Norrala and Skärså IN HÖG Southwest side of lake Letssjön N 6804907 E 610226 Around the church in Hög parish, east of Information about the road Information about the length N 6862835 E 550840 Hudiksvall conditions: most roads are kept of the route and hours: Mighty cairns from the Bronze Age. They were N 6849841 E 607641 A large stone where Stone Age inhabitants has in good condition. Some of appr. 350 km and 12 hours built to honour the dead family member, and painted warrior paintings. the forest roads can be in bad also to send him/her safely to the kingdom of The area around the church in Hög has been a condition during early spring and death and to keep him there. The cairns also cult place from early Iron Age to the Middle Ages 16 early winter. worked as a territory marking for the local tribe. when the church was built. In the area lived a rich 13 THE HAMRE GRAVE FIELD They were placed on strategic hills to control the and noble family. Their wealth descended from On a headland in Färnebofjärden. More than one 16 SMEDJENÄSET, VIKEN, IN ALFTA 3 communication routes at sea and on land. skin and furs. During the late Iron Age and early hundred Iron Ages graves The road between Alfta and Ovanåker. In the A whole set of rituals and cult based aspects were Middle Ages there was a pagan cult place, a large N 6679144 E 599142 village Viken, take the small road to the south involved in the burial process. After the funeral, stone circle, close to the large grave mound “Kings The biggest grave field from early Iron Age in the N 6801347 E 552583 the forefathers could be called upon at special mound”. This was the centre of the cult and of legal county. occasions, for advice and other purposes. matters during the Iron Age. Only the cult leader Grave field from Early Iron Age, partly excavated. was allowed inside the circle. The church was built in 1191–1192. 17 STEN-KARLEN IN ÅRSUNDA Within the project Cult Identity, The County 14 From Hedkarlby to Åkeslund, and the old church museum of Gävleborg region have performed path to the southwest archaeological excavations in the area. The N 6708415 E 593416 pagan cult place and houses dated to 200 AD was investigated. It became clear that the family A man was killed at the site long ago. By passer 1 who lived here had controlled the stream Hornån, throws stone on the spot in protection of the and had contacts in the Roman Empire. They dead. 1 THE GRAVE FIELD AT JÄRVSTA, 3 ToTRA abandoned their farm when it was not possible to RUNIC STONE, FERTILITY SWITCH Between Bergby and Norrsundet in Hamrånge sail up the stream any longer. Where they went we 18 THE TRINITY SPRING IN HAGALUND BOARD N 6755719 E 612643 do not know, but their large mounds still lies there, The road between Storvik and Hosjön. At Järvsta village, outside Gävle, close to the road in harmony with the landscape. 14 ONBACKEN IN BoLLNÄS From the beginning, Totra belonged to the Hagalund to the south across a field to Furuvik The mounds in the area were built to honor A hill in the middle of Bollnäs. Stroll area neighbouring village Häckelsäng. The name N 6719896 E 581526 N 6725764 E 619359 and worship the ancestors, but also to mark the between the railway and Ljusnan Häckelsäng has a religious content. It was a cult Grave field from Viking Age. The grave field tribes territory. The runic stones were risen as a N 6802700 E 574742 On trinity people throw coins in the water and place during the Viking Age. In a cult field in contains 35 graves, a runic stone and a fertility honorable and ritual act, and to remind people make a wish. If you keep quiet twenty-four hours the village, objects of great value belonging to Grave and settlement area from the Early Iron Age. switchboard. During the Viking Age the grave of the forefathers and of the new religion. During the wish came true. a Viking Age smith has been found. They were field was situated close to the sea in a sheltered Medieval Times, the church and the Kings estate an iron oath ring, that the Vikings held when bay. Some graves are excavated, and it shows were built here because of the greatness and status they swore their holy oath. There also was a influences from other sites in the Baltic Sea of the history of this place. blacksmiths hammer. The important place during TOURisM INFORMAtiON region. It also exhibits the conversion from the Iron Age developed into a farm on the hill 7 paganism to Christianity. The people had great with a tower during early Medieval times. The festivities in connection with the funerals. Runic Tourist agency Gävle Tourist agency Hudiksvall local chief lived here with his family and staff. 7 THE PAGAN HILL stones were risen as a holy act to celebrate the Drottninggatan 22, Gävle Storgatan 33, 824 30 Hudiksvall Totra farm and tower controlled the coast and “HEDNINGAHÄLLAN” forefathers and the Christening of the area. It +4626177117 +4665019100 the land in this area during a long period of time. Go along the road between Enånger and could also symbolize the building of a bridge and [email protected] turistbyrå[email protected] The family most likely traded with iron and/or fur. Långvind. Look out for a small road to the west other honorable acts. This runic stone mentions www.gavle.se www.hudiksvall.se N 6819276 E 607010 a journey to the East and speaks of the king Tourist agency Söderhamn Tourist agency Nordanstig (Jättendal) Emund, who ruled in the middle of the 10th During the late Stone Age (2 500 BC) this cliff was Köpmangatan 11, 826 30 Söderhamn Landsvägen 1, 820 76 Jättendal century. an island in the sea. Now, it is situated in the forest. +4627075353 +4665216175 To get pregnant easier, women were supposed People from different areas around the Baltic Sea 10 [email protected] [email protected] to slide down the hillside of the grave field. You gathered up on the cliff. We know that because www.soderhamn.se www.bokningscentralen.com can still see the line in the stone. The hills with the archaeologists has found ceramics from the 10 THE LABYRINTH AT KUGGÖRARNA slides (switchboards) is often found in the vicinity present Finland and other areas. It is the oldest The northeast part of the island Kuggören of rock carvings and cup mark stones from the cult place in the route! The people who came N 6843903 E 633034 ABOUT OTHER SIGHTSEEING OBJECTS / OPTIONS WITHIN THE ROUTE Bronze age. They were clearly a part of a holy here performed ritual celebrations in which a lot 4 www.raa.se/fornsok www.halsingland.se fertility complex. They also, for some reason, of stone axes, ceramics and other objects were Labyrinths were built by sailors and fishermen to Ancient sites. A site with a database and map Tourism in Hälsingland. Tourism website with often coincide with Iron Age grave fields. crushed. They were probably crushed as a kind catch the storm. They all have different layouts. The 4 JÄTTENDALARNA IN HILLE with every known ancient site and historic site booking facilities etc. of sacrifice. Also, they most likely arranged cult entrance is facing different directions, probably Just beside the old road E4 in Björke in the country. festivities on this flat island in the Baltic Sea. towards the eye of the storm. The labyrinths could www.halsingegardar.se 2 LERVIK SPRING N 6737577 E 619229 also be constructed to affect the fishing luck. Often www.raa.se Tourism and cultural environment in The road to Gävle harbor. A path leads to the Jättendalarna is a mound grave field from there is a special elaborated feature in the middle. Cultural history and environment in Sweden. Hälsingland. Website of the Hälsingland world east just before the road to Bönan. the Iron Age. Grave mounds are supposed to Around the Baltic Sea, some of them are Medieval, The Swedish National Heritage Boards own heritage farms. N 6731388 E 619851 represent the farmers in the region.