In spring 2016, Södertörn University and MARIS, in collaboration with Västerviks Museum, conducted an archaeological research survey at Stäket, Kallåker 4:4 in Gamlebysocken, Västervik municipality, Kalmar County, Småland. At the survey two trenches were dug on land in connection with a previously known "pole blockage" in the water of Dynestadviken at a place called Stäket. One trench was placed in a stone construction situated close to the level of the Viking age shore line. The other trench was orientated in today's wetland adjacent to the timber construction in the water.

The stone "cairn- like" construction lays in line with the timber construction in the water and are interpreted by us as associated with the underwater remains. The test trench was done in that part of the construction which is closest to the water. But the stone cairn seems to continue west at least 10 m up the beach slope. In the trench a brow, a flint and fragments of processed wood were found. Underneath and between the stones, wooden poles emerged of which one dates back to Viking age-early Middle Ages.

The other trench, in the wetland closer to the water, could only be dug to approx. 0.2 m depth, but in this area several wooden poles appeared as well as parts of planks and a smallbox shaped wooden construction.

Several of the upright standing poles, both in the water and on land have been dated to late Iron age, but there are also some dating of poles and planks from late Medieval/EarlyModern period. In connection to wood sampling in the water for dating of the poles a well worked oak plank also was found. The plank is dated to late Viking period and is very likely from a boat.

During late Viking period, the place for the site was the most topographical strategic part of the waterway between the bay of Gamlebyviken and the protected inner water around Dynestadsjön. The choice of place gives an indication that the construction during this time is linked to strategy and protection of the rich Iron Age homeland north of the construction.

The exact function of the constructions at Stäket cannot be said at the present time and there are several possible functions. The most obvious interpretation is to see it as a blockage defending the inlet, but there is also a possibility that the remains we know about today actually are a part of a larger harbour arrangement. Other possibilities which can't be excluded is that the construction could have been used for fishing or that some of the poles are remains of a bridge over the narrow inlet. Combinations of these different functions areof course also possible. Considering the different dating and the mix of wooden material is also very likely that the use and function of the place have changed during history.