Ancient Monuments, Relics
The island is incredibly rich in remains from all periods, including the Stone Age, Bronze Age, and Iron Age. The Viking Age and medieval times are particularly abundant.
The sheer number of ancient monuments on Gotland is likely to astonish anyone who takes the time to explore. The well-informed Mårten Stenberger remarks in his extensive work Boken om Gotland (Esselte, Stockholm 1945):
"The phrase 'Gotland as the island of ancient monuments' may seem worn out, but it is certainly not false. It is a palpable reality."
Stenberger also notes that, despite Gotland having a higher density of prehistoric monuments than anywhere else in Sweden, they don't immediately define the landscape. This is partly due to Gotland having more forested areas than places like Småland. Additionally, much of today's Gotland landscape consists of vast agricultural fields, which were once marshlands navigable by boat. These areas have been drained and converted into farmland, leaving ancient monuments in meadows and older, less fertile farmland.
Stone Age Gotlanders – Among the Oldest in Sweden
According to Gotland’s own saga, the first Gotlander was Tjelvar, though he arrived long after the earliest inhabitants. Around 9,400 years ago, people lived in Stora Förvar, a cave on Stora Karlsö, where cultural layers are over four meters deep.
"At the end of the 19th century, skeleton remains were excavated from the lower layer of the cave. These remains belonged to an infant, two children aged 10-12, four young adults in their 20s, and a middle-aged man and woman. Some bones were burned, others seem to have been deliberately broken and split, and parts of skulls show signs of scalping. This suggests the dead may have been eaten, possibly as part of ceremonies meant to honor them. These people, living in the 25-meter-deep cave around 7400 BCE, are among the oldest found in Sweden" (source: Kannibalerna and Kannibaler och slavjägare).
Exploring Gotland’s Relics
Gotland has a vast array of ancient relics. While the oldest Stone Age relics are scarce, later periods present more relics than most regions in the Nordic countries. Many mainland cultural elements actually originated from Gotland, such as Iron Age and Vendel-era traditions.
The Neolithic Period on Gotland
It’s not just about finding a few pottery shards or stone axes from the Neolithic on Gotland – the volume of finds is measured in tons. While Visby is sometimes highlighted for Neolithic finds, these are minor compared to the island’s overall relics. For example, the number of stone axes and similar artifacts is staggering.
The Bronze Age on Gotland
The Bronze Age left behind enormous burial mounds, called stainrojr. These mounds, some up to eight meters high and with diameters reaching 45 meters, are impressive architectural feats. There are over 1,300 significant burial mounds on the island. Don’t forget the ship settings, which are found in abundance on Gotland, with at least 350 visible ones dating to the Bronze Age.
If you’ve never seen Bronze Age architecture, you haven’t truly visited Gotland. Unlike Öland, Skåne, or Västergötland, where relics are found in open landscapes, on Gotland you may need to venture deep into the woods to discover these marvels.
The Iron Age on Gotland
The Iron Age brings even more relics. Some graves are literal treasure troves of iron. The oldest iron furnaces in Sweden were found on Gotland. There are also about 1,800 abandoned houses from the centuries after Christ, known as kämpgravar. Some of these abandoned villages, like Vallhagar, rank among the finest ancient relics in the world. Also noteworthy are the drinking horns from the Iron Age, four out of five of which were found on Gotland, and the Gotlandic picture stones, one of the world's great historical art forms.
Fantastic, Magical Gotland
Over the years, many of Gotland’s artifacts have found their way to various museums across Europe. A significant portion of the collection in the Historical Museum in Stockholm, for example, consists of items from Gotland, collected due to their historical significance.
Fortunately, much of Gotland’s heritage remains intact, offering visitors the opportunity to explore a wealth of ancient relics. While some of these treasures may require a bit of exploration through the island's meadows and forests, Gotland’s serene woodlands and stunning landscapes make the journey as rewarding as the discoveries themselves.