Thousand-Year-Old Christian Viking-era Graves Found in Sweden

Seven Christian tombs dating to the Viking Age have been found at Sigtuna. According to archaeologists, the tombs date to the city’s earliest times, to the late 10th century.

They were most likely the first generation of Christians, says archaeologist Johan Runer.

“What is unique is that several of the people are buried in wooden coffins that are covered with stone, a construction we haven’t seen in Sigtuna before,” Johan Runer of the project Assignment Archeology told national broadcaster SVT.

The tombs, which date back over a thousand years, were uncovered during excavations for a residential building.

The tomb served as the final resting place for eight persons who were buried with various things such as knives, belts, and combs. One of the graves most likely held two infants. At birth, he died. The objects will eventually be shown in the Sigtuna Museum.

The tomb was located on a hill overlooking the bay a thousand years ago. There was a port that might have played a significant part in the development of Sigtuna. Archaeologists are looking forward to learning more about the foundations of Sigtuna and their links with other Birka. The settlement from the Viking era…

Eric the Victorious founded Sigtuna in the 970s. Later, his son Olof Skötkonung, Sweden’s first Christian king, minted the first Swedish coins at Sigtuna. Signuna’s church remains are thought to date from the late 1000s. Sigtuna also served as an episcopal see from the 1070s until the 1120s.

Cover Photo:Uppdrag arkeologi