A long-forgotten royal mound in Uppsala from the 7^th century has been found by chance. Archaeologists are excited.

This summer archaeologists have been digging south of the Church in Old Uppsala. The plan was to find the old episcopal manor, before it was moved to Uppsala in 1275. This they found.

However, much more exciting was that beneath the medieval hall they found, what they believe is a new royal mound from the 7^th century. The mound measures approximately 30 m in diameter and had been been damaged and encapsulated in the 12th c.; probably about the same time as the cathedral was built.

The archaeologists are a bit frustrated, though. They believe that the mound may very well hold a cremated burial complete with the remains of weapons and gifts, such as were found in the three other royal tombs at Uppsala. However the excavating teams lacks funding!

The Old Mounds

The area at Old Uppsala was well known as an archaeological site since the 16^th century and has been excavated many times, with four major excavations in the 19^th, 20^th and 21^st centuries.

Central is the area with the three largest mounds, the so-called royal mounds. Early on it was claimed that they held the remains of three mythic kings mentioned in Ynglingatal from the 9th century – Adis, Aun and Egil.

The mounds measure 55 – 70 meters in diameter and are 7 – 11 meter high. Two of the tombs have been excavated, the eastern mound in 1846 and the western mound in 1874. Both times the remains of cremations were found, holding tantalising fragments of helmets like the one found in Sutton Hoo and other luxurious items like a sword, several glassbeakers, a tafl game, a comb and a hone plus four cameos from the Middle East.

Excavations since 2012 have uncovered a number of spectacular buildings, which might corroborate part of the description of Uppsala as a sacred place found in Adam of Bremen. However, the results have not been published as yet and a final understanding of the important regional power centre.

Near that temple is a very large tree with widespread branches which are always green both in winter and summer. What kind of tree it is nobody knows. There is also a spring there where the pagan are accustomed to perform sacrifices and to immerse a human being alive. As long as his body is not found, the request of the people will be fulfilled. A golden chain encircles that temple and hangs over the gables of the building. Those who approach see its gleam from afar off because the shrine, which is located on a plain, is encircled by mountains so situated as to give the effect of a theatre. For nine days feasts and sacrifices of this kind are celebrated. Every day they sacrifice one human being in addition to other animals, so that in nine days there are 72 victims which are sacrificed. This sacrifice takes place about the time of the vernal equinox (Source: Adam of Bremen’s Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum, Book IV. SRG, Hannover 1876.)

SOURCE:

Gamla Uppsala – a mythical centre