Sigtuna

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen

Sigtuna is situated on Lake Mälaren not far from Stockholm. The Swedish King Eric the Victorious is traditionally considered as the founder of Sigtuna (AD 980). Sigtuna acquired municipal privileges in AD 1010. By the end of the Viking Age as many as seven churches had been erected in and around the town. Sigtuna flourished both as a royal town, Episcopal town and commercial centre for the following 250 years.

Sigtuna is believed to be the only Swedish town dating from the transition between Viking times and the Middle Ages, i.e. the period around AD 1000-1200.

The town was built from scratch just like many other Scandinavian towns in the Viking Age and constructed with of plots and roads of fixed size. The plots are 7-8 m wide and 30-40 m long.

All the houses in town face Stora gatan. There are no archaeological traces in the harbour area of jetties. This indicates that, in this earliest period, access to the main street was of greater importance than access to the water.

This is much like the Danish city of Ribe which was also constructed in the form of long, narrow plots. Similarly, towns such as Olso and Trondheim which, according to the Icelandic saga writer, Snorri Sturluson, were founded at approximately the same time as Sigtuna, were constructed around a main street. Danish-Norwegian towns in England and Ireland, for example York and Dublin, also have the same layout with long, narrow plots extending from a main street. As York and Dublin are both older than Sigtuna, it is reasonable to conclude that a certain influence reached Scandinavia from Britain.

A large plot of land in the centre of Sigtuna indicates the location of the royal seat. Connected with this were a number of buildings, including the church and the mint. In the mint, traces were found of specimen copies of lead from a die, dated to the time of the Swedish King Olof Skötkonung.

Christianity in Sigtuna
There are several conflicting sources concerning the spreading and significance of Christianity in the area around Sigtuna. The first stone church was constructed already towards the end of the 11th century. This church was an Episcopal residence from the middle of the 11th century until around the middle of the 12th century. Several of the town’s stone churches undoubtedly had a predecessor of wood. Olof Skottkonung called the town Situne Dei - "God's town" - on his coins and Adam of Bremen refers to the town as an Episcopal residence in AD 1070. However, burials with pagan grave goods are found from the same period, and Sigtuna's hinterland was characterised by local, heathen chieftains. According to Adam of Bremen, Olof was not allowed to useviolent force to make the inhabitants renounce their faith unless they themselves wished to convert to Christianity.

Barbara Højlund & Frederik Schildt Nabe-Nielsen