The Iron Age on Gotland

General Overview of the Iron Age

The Iron Age in Scandinavia began in earnest around the 6th century BCE, coinciding with the rise of the Roman Empire, and extended until approximately 1050 CE. The Iron Age is divided into two major periods, each further subdivided:

• Early Iron Age
  • Pre-Roman Iron Age: 500 BCE – 0
  • Roman Iron Age: 0 – 375 CE
  • Migration Period: 375 – 550 CE
• Late Iron Age
  • Vendel Period: 550 – 800 CE
  • Viking Age: 800 – 1050 CE

The climate in the Nordic region deteriorated, but advancements in seafaring and boat construction allowed for expanded trade and exploration. Larger, more efficient ships enabled the transportation of many men across seas and rivers, further facilitating trade and cultural exchanges.

Gotland During the Iron Age

Gotland played a pivotal role during the Iron Age, marked by several significant developments and contributions:

• The island is home to 1,800 ancient graves (kämpgravar) and around 100 hillforts.
• Gotland was where the first iron object in Sweden was found, alongside evidence of the first iron smelting in the region.
• Gotlandic artisans produced drinking horns and other tools, and the island saw the development of the first runic alphabet.
• 80% of all Roman denarii (silver coins from the 2nd century) found in Sweden were discovered on Gotland.
• Picture stones, symbolic of Gotland's rich cultural heritage, originated during this time.
• The island's connections with Germanic culture, including trade networks and linguistic development, were strong.
• Colonies in the Baltic region andPoland indicate Gotland’s wide-reaching influence.
• Gotland is also known for holding 80% of Viking Age silver hoardsfound in Sweden.
• The island boasted early advanced craftsmanship, including one of the best-preserved stave churches and a well-equipped tool chest.
• Gotlanders established a major trading post in Novgorod during the Viking Age, which would later grow in importance during the medieval period.

Attempting to summarize Gotland's Iron Age is challenging due to its complexity and the extensive archaeological finds. Improved seafaring and better access to the Baltic Sea helped Gotland dominate regional trade, a dominance that lasted well into the medieval era.

The extensive evidence of ironworking on Gotland suggests a highly developed industry. Many Iron Age graves, with their iron artifacts, have been referred to as veritable "iron mines". Though Gotland's bedrock contains no natural iron deposits, large amounts of granite, carried by the Ice Age, may have contributed to the island’s iron resources. Others speculate that Gotland imported iron, perhaps from regions like Svealand or Småland, but the island's robust ironworking culture suggests that local resources were sufficient.

Another key aspect of Gotland's Iron Age heritage is the slipskårestenar, or grooved stones, whose purpose remains mysterious but likely played a role in this advanced culture.

The early development of the runic alphabet on Gotland is a notable milestone. The first runes, and indeed the first runic alphabet, emerged on the island, indicating that Gotland was at the forefront of literacy and higher culture in the broader Germanic world.

Trade across the Baltic flourished during this period, particularly towards the east and southeast. Gotland's prominence is reflected in the discovery of 80% of all Roman silver denarii in Sweden on the island, a statistic mirrored by its later accumulation of Arabic silver coins from the Viking Age, 600-700 years later. While the exact mechanics of this trade remain unclear, Gutasagan—a saga recounting the migrations and travels of the Gotlanders—provides a historical backdrop. Whether or not the Goths and Gotlanders were one and the same remains debated, but Gotland clearly played a central role in the expansion of trade across the Baltic.

The establishment of colonies in modern-day Gdansk, free access to the Black Sea, and trading colonies in the Baltics all contributed to Gotland's Iron Age prosperity. By the end of the Iron Age, Gotland had established a prominent trading post in Novgorod (then known as Hulmgard), setting the stage for its medieval dominance in Baltic trade.

While the Viking Age is often associated with Gotland's trade dominance, it was during the Vendel Period that the island’s commercial activity reached its peak. Viking Age trade laid the foundation for Gotland’s thriving medieval economy, and the island's main city, Visby, grew out of this Viking Age trade network, though its stone structures date from the Middle Ages.