Vätteryd

Tjörnarp, Sweden

The Vätteryd grave field, also known as Vätterydshed, dates from the Iron Age. The grave field consists of 183 menhirs, 15 stone ships - the largest 25 m long and 8 m wide - and 2 circles. Many of the stone ships are so damaged that all that remains are parts smaller than half the original size.

In the beginning of the 19th century, Vätteryd, with about 600 menhirs, was considered the largest grave field in Scandinavia. The research conducted between 1955 and 1957 made clear that the site had been a place of cremation burials. The grave goods found - such as bronze jewelry, glass and bronze pearls, and bronze wire - were taken to various museums in Stockholm.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

23, Tjörnarp, Sweden

See all sites in Tjörnarp

Details

Founded: 550-900 AD
Category: Cemeteries, mausoleums and burial places in Sweden
Historical period: Vendel Period (Sweden)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.megalithic.co.uk

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Vannaröd Castle (3,1 km)

Lund Cathedral (45,6 km)
Lund Historical Museum (45,5 km)
Kungshuset (45,5 km)
Lund University Main Building (45,5 km)
Drotten Church Ruins (45,9 km)
St. Peter's Priory (45,9 km)
Trinity Church (30,2 km)
Allhelgonakyrkan (45,1 km)
Hovdala Castle (10,2 km)

User Reviews

Darjan Salaj (2 years ago)
Really cool place to visit on the road trip

Tore Brynaa (2 years ago)
Such an amazing place. Very fascinating. Parking is plenty I would like more information about the history. There is a restaurant next to the burial site.

D Henrick (3 years ago)
How fortunate that we got there by chance. Easy to find alongside the road from Höör. As one can read it is the biggest and best-preserved grave field in Skåne. Of probably several hundreds or thousands of stones in the past, today 375 stones are still standing. To me, the stone ships shaped impressively. Come here at sunset to feel the energy of this place.

Alan Rasmussen (3 years ago)
Historical intetesting an a nice short walk

Peter Jan Randewijk (3 years ago)
No as impressive in real live as on the pictures. Next to a busy road and a ploughed field on the other side. My thoughts were the whole time, "how many grave sones got destroyed by the road and the ploughed field?" Some signs / information boards would be nice to explain what one is seeing.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Finest Norman castles in Italy

Exploring the History of Northern Poland

Discovering Slovenia's Historic Wonders

Photo from Flickr, copyright Following Hadrian

Historic Site of the week

Walls of Constantinople

The Walls of Constantinople are a series of defensive stone walls that have surrounded and protected the city of Constantinople (today Istanbul) since its founding as the new capital of the Roman Empire by Constantine the Great. With numerous additions and modifications during their history, they were the last great fortification system of antiquity, and one of the most complex and elaborate systems ever built. They were also the largest and strongest fortification in both the ancient and medieval world.

Initially built by Constantine the Great, the walls surrounded the new city on all sides, protecting it against attack from both sea and land. As the city grew, the famous double line of the Theodosian Walls was built in the 5th century. Although the other sections of the walls were less elaborate, they were, when well-manned, almost impregnable for any medieval besieger.