Kämpgravar and Stavgårdar on Gotland
Over 1,800 stone house foundations from the Iron Age remain on Gotland. These foundations are often referred to as "kämpgravar" but are also commonly called "stavgårdar." However, many more once existed. According to calculations by Ola Nilsson in his 2011 thesis Stengrunder och gränser, around 60% of these structures have been lost due to farming. He estimates that in 1700, there were approximately 4,700 stone foundations, representing around 2,800 different farms from the early Iron Age. These foundations typically represent clusters of buildings on farms, including homes and various outbuildings. This estimate aligns with other calculations that suggest Gotland had about 2,000 farms during the early Iron Age. Interestingly, Gotland was divided into 20 districts, which were sometimes called "hundare" in Gutalagen from the 1200s, suggesting that each district might have had about 100 farms.
You can find these foundations all over Gotland, often composed of massive stones. The longest known kämpgrav, Stavars hus, is 67 meters long, making it the largest building in Northern Europe during its time.
Timeframe: Early Iron Age (500 BC to the Birth of Christ)
Current research suggests that these stone foundations, or kämpgravar, began to be built around the transition from the Early to Late Roman Iron Age, a few hundred years before the birth of Christ. Erik Nylén, writing in Fornvännen, mentions discoveries indicating that some of these structures date back to early Roman times, with some being used even into the Viking Age.
This building style likely persisted for over 1,000 years, though many of the kämpgravar seem to have been abandoned by the 600s AD. In general, you can assume that people lived at these sites for about 5-600 years, centered around the birth of Christ.
Iron Age Villages
Several villages from this period have also been preserved, which is an impressive and little-known fact. Notable examples include Vallhagar, Visne ängar, Solsänget in Sproge, Fornbyn Fallet, and the twelve house foundations enclosed in Norrlanda.
What the Iron Age People Accomplished
Around 80% of all Roman silver coins found in Sweden were brought back by these people, who likely served in the Roman army. They also carved rune stones and picture stones, farmed the land, and built numerous hillforts. When these settlements were abandoned, Gotlandic colonies began to appear further east.
Recommended Sites to Visit
For a glimpse of a reconstructed house foundation, visit Lojstahallen, Stabbgard, Stavgard, or Soivide in Sjonhem.
More About Kämpgravar
It's worth noting that the Roman historian Tacitus wrote in 98 AD about a powerful people living around the Baltic Sea and described the Germanic societies of the time. In his book Gotländska gårdar och byar under äldre järnåldern, Professor Nihlén states that:
"To illustrate Tacitus' description of Germanic villages, one only needs to look at Gotland's kämpgrav villages."
Information signs at these sites often claim that these stone foundations were once believed to be giant graves, though the origin of this theory is unclear.
Why the Kämpgravar Were Abandoned
No one knows for sure why these settlements were abandoned. Some believe it happened during the 600s AD, a time thought to be marked by unrest, though there is no clear evidence supporting this claim. Some even suggest that Svear invaded Gotland, a theory with little basis.
More recent research suggests that many settlements may have been abandoned earlier than the 600s, though there haven't been enough archaeological studies to draw definitive conclusions.
Gutasagan's Theory of Overpopulation
Gutasagan offers an alternative explanation, citing overpopulation as a reason for the abandonment of these settlements. According to the saga, the population grew so large that the land could no longer support everyone. As a result, every third family was forced to leave, taking everything they owned with them.
While overpopulation might not fully explain the existence of so many kämpgravar, the idea of war and violence in the 500s is even less likely.
Gutasagan is generally considered credible regarding Gotland's subjugation by the Swedish king and its payment of tribute, but its claims of emigration are less certain. Some suggest that this migration story is tied to the Goths, though this is debated.
Modern researchers like Carlsson and Östergren argue that there wasn't any dramatic abandonment of farms in the 500s. Instead, they believe that settlements largely remained in place, though the materials and locations of the buildings evolved over time, with wood replacing stone after the 500s. This is why no Viking-era building remains have been found on Gotlandic farms.
A Religious Connection
Gutasagan also provides insight into ancient religious practices: "People believed in sacred groves, burial mounds, temples, and stavgårdar, and in pagan gods." Gutalagen, Sweden's first provincial law, forbids sacrifices and the worship of groves, mounds, temples, or stavgårdar.
Some scholars have interpreted this to mean that stavgårdar were sacred places, though Ingemar Olsson, who has studied Gotlandic place names, suggests that stavgårdar are often sites where Iron Age house foundations can be found.
Olsson speculates that places named Stavgard or similar were likely sites of kämpgravar, though he remains unsure. However, based on Gutasagan and Gutalagen, it seems likely that stavgårdar were used for some form of religious activity, though the exact nature of this remains a mystery.
Could these sites have been used for rituals in memory of families forced to emigrate due to overpopulation? Or perhaps as places to remember past generations? Many of these locations are remarkably beautiful, which could suggest they were places of strong emotional significance.
It’s important to note that Gotland had colonies around the Baltic Sea as early as the 600s.
Migration to Greece
Early picture stones, often associated with kämpgravar, may also offer clues. For example, four stones found at Hemse churchyard are said to come from a kämpgrav site. Gutasagan suggests that some emigrants eventually settled in Greece. Interestingly, a thesis from Gotland University argues that the designs on these stones, particularly the ships and ornaments, bear a stronger resemblance to artwork from that region than to Roman, Celtic, or English styles, which are currently the dominant theories.
Additionally, 80% of Roman silver coins found in Sweden from the centuries after the birth of Christ have been discovered on Gotland. The Crimean Peninsula, where the Goths settled, was part of Greece at the time.
It seems that Gutasagan might indeed be providing accurate information about this migration, and the kämpgravar could be a visible testament to that very event.