Archaeologists in Sweden have uncovered a significant Viking-era cemetery near the village of Tvååker, southwest of Varberg in Halland County. The site, which includes at least 139 graves and burial mounds, dates back over 1,200 years.
The excavations commenced in May 2017 and continued until 2019, initially prompted by plans for a roundabout and new water pipes. What began as routine groundwork revealed a large burial ground. Petra Nordin, project leader and archaeologist at Sweden's National Historical Museums, remarked on the unexpected scale of the site, stating, "As soon as excavations began, we realized that there was a large Viking burial ground that we had to focus on."
The cemetery features over a hundred graves, with some surrounded by stones arranged in boat shapes, a burial practice symbolizing the journey to the afterlife in Viking culture. Notable findings include three large ship-shaped stone settings and a 50-meter-long ship-shaped stone setting on a ridge.
Artifacts recovered from the site include human and animal bones, metal objects, ceramic vessels, iron arrowheads, jewelry, and a clipped Arab silver coin dated between 795 and 806 A.D. This coin supports the notion of Viking interactions with international trade networks and their extensive expeditions beyond Scandinavia.
Evidence of Viking burial customs was also found, including cremation pyres where the deceased were burned, often accompanied by unburned animal sacrifices. Nordin noted the frequent presence of animal remains, particularly dogs, on these pyres.
Despite the extensive findings, challenges arose due to the site's condition, as previous plowing and leveling destroyed many above-ground remains. Nordin indicated that only six percent of the total area has been excavated, suggesting many more graves and artifacts may lie hidden beneath modern structures.
Interestingly, there is no associated settlement identified with the cemetery. Experts speculate that a village likely existed in the Tvååker area during the early Viking period, but its exact location remains unknown. The cemetery is situated on a flat ridge along two key transport routes from the Viking Age: the Tvååkersån river and Järnbäravägen road, which was vital for iron transportation. Nordin expressed excitement about potential future discoveries, stating, "Is the village located at the mouth of the Tvååker River or is it near the burial ground? We don't know. But it is exciting to see what will emerge in the future."