Gotska Sandön ligger ensligt mitt ute i Östersjön och framställs ofta som en avlägsen och orörd plats. Dess äldre historia har antagits handla om fiske och säsongsjakt på säl. Men de nya arkeologiska undersökningar som redovisas i denna rapport visar på en betydligt mer komplex historia. Ön har under flera årtusenden genom sitt strategiska läge varit en korsväg mellan olika kulturområden i hela Östersjöområdet. De fynd av keramik, mynt och vapen som hittats längs öns sandiga stränder utgör spår av dessa såväl fredliga som krigiska maritima möten.

In this study, we investigate the interplay between relative sea-level changes, the development of human settlements and land-cover changes in the Vastervik-Gamlebyviken region on the southeast coast of Sweden, an important archaeological area from the Mesolithic until recent times. The reconstruction of shore displacement was based on diatom analysis of radiocarbon-dated sediment cores from three lake basins combined with previously published lake isolation data. The resulting curve was used to construct palaeogeographical maps for selected time windows. Land-cover changes were inferred from pollen data from three lakes using the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm with its two models REVEALS and LOVE. Our data suggest that people took advantage of the land gained due to an overall fall in relative sea level from similar to 35 to similar to 3 metres above sea level (m a.s.l.) over the last 10 000 years, interrupted by periods of transgression and highstands. A sea-level regression of similar to 16 m occurred between 10 000 and 8500 cal a BP followed by an similar to 3-4-m sea-level rise, reaching similar to 22 m a.s.l. at similar to 7500 cal a BP, which corresponds to the maximum Littorina Sea shoreline in the area. The available archaeological findings for the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic (8950-5450 cal a BP) agree well with the shore displacement curve showing that settlements and human activities were concentrated along or above the shorelines as defined from our study. During the transgression after 8500 cal a BP, however, seasonal settlements were submerged (as shown by findings of polished stone tools and hearths buried in sand) and used again during the subsequent regression after 4600 cal a BP. The Iron Age (2450-900 cal a BP) corresponds partly to a highstand at similar to 11 m a.s.l. between 3600 and 2000 cal a BP and partly to a rapid regression of similar to 8 m between 2000 and 1500 cal a BP, and both periods coincide with known human activities along the contemporaneous shoreline. The rapid regression after 2000 cal a BP corresponds to an increase of both regional and local landscape openness and the beginning of a continuous record of crop cultivation.

The title of the article alludes to the contemporary American debate about the significance of firearms for killing and violence; is it guns or people that’s kill? But the aim here is to take this further and ask, more generally, what role do material things have for conflicts, power relations and societal change? This question theoretically concerns various forms of materialism and concepts such as dialectic, entanglement, affordances and possibilism.  

In this text, technology and material culture’s role in social formation and historical change is contextualized and discussed based on the building and presence of new heavily armed warships during the 15th and 16th centuries. How do these material innovations relate to the transformation of the society? What role did the big new ships have in the change from Medieval to Modern? The archeological and historical examples are taken from the Baltic Sea region and the Scandinavian countries.

Reconstructions of past land use and related land-cover changes at local and regional scales are needed to evaluate the potential long-term impacts of land use on the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea. In this purpose, we selected the Gamleby area at the Swedish Baltic Sea coast for a case study. We use a new, high resolution pollen record from a small lake (Lillsjön) located 3.6 km NNW of the bay Gamlebyviken and detailed analysis of the available archeological data to reconstruct local land-use changes over the last 3000 years. To estimate land-cover change at local (2–3 km radius area) and regional (50 km radius area) scales we use four additional, published pollen records from two small and two large lakes (25–70 km S of Lillsjön) and the Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm, a pollen-vegetation modeling scheme. Results show that regional and local (small lakes Lillsjön and Hyttegöl) land-cover changes are comparable over the last 1500 years (Late Iron Age to present), and that landscape openness was much larger locally than regionally (difference of 20–40% cover over the last 500 years). The periods of largest potential impacts on the Gamlebyviken Bay from regional and local land use are 200–950 CE (Late Iron Age) and 1450 CE to present, and of lowest potential impacts 950–1450 CE. The question on whether the large landscape openness 1150–50 BCE and significant afforestation 50 BCE–200 CE reconstructed for Lillsjön’s area are characteristic of the Gamlebyviken region will require additional pollen records in the catchment area. 

I Blekinge skärgård vid Stora Ekön ligger på knappt tio meters djup vraket efter den danske unionskungen Hans skepp. Fartyget som av sin samtid kallades Gripen och även vid några tillfällen Griphund förliste år 1495 efter en brand ombord när hon låg för ankar. 

Södertörns högskola har bedrivit marinarkeologiska undersökningar på platsen sedan 2013 och denna rapport redogör för fortsatt dokumentation av vraket under 2023 tillsammans med Stockholms universitet. Huvudsyftet med insatsen var att studera överbyggnaden på skeppet för att förstå hur fartyget fungerade i strid med speciellt fokus på knektarnas roll ombord och deras samspel med den befintliga vapenteknologin.

Rapporten innehåller även en omfattande analys av tidigare bärgade delar från ringvävnadsplagg samt synpunkter på vrakets bevarandestatus. Gripen/Griphund utgör som skeppskonstruktion samt med vapnen och föremålen ombord ett unikt exempel på ett kungligt skepp från slutet av medeltiden. Det är en representant för de nya kravellbyggda skepp som tillsammans med sina furstar var med och bidrog till den tidigmoderna samhällsförändringen.

This study aims to investigate and disentangle the impact of land use and climate variability on the Baltic Sea coastal zone from a millennial perspective. To assess the environmental status of the coastal zone we make use of siliceous microfossils (mainly diatoms), stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes, organic carbon accumulation rates, and lithological changes analyzed in a sediment core collected in Gamlebyviken, Swedish east coast, dated to cover the last 3000 years. Changes in land use and vegetation cover are modelled using pollen stratigraphical data to obtain the percentage coverage of coniferous woodland (Pinus and Picea), deciduous woodland, wetland (Cyperaceae), grassland (including Juniperus) and cropland (cereals) while changes in climatic conditions are assessed through well-documented climatic periods that have occurred in the Baltic Sea region. The reconstructed regional vegetation cover shows that already 3000 years ago, humans used the landscape for both animal husbandry (grasslands) and farming (cropland), but the impact on the Baltic coastal waters was minor. The diatom accumulation rates were quite high (similar to 3100-2600 cal yr BP) containing taxa indicative of high nutrient conditions/upwelling, and stable carbon isotopes show that the carbon was produced in the basin but did not result in elevated organic carbon accumulation rates. A gradual change to less marine conditions in Gamlebyviken from about 2500 to 1400 cal yr BP can be attributed to the ongoing land uplift which resulted in a more enclosed embayment with only a narrow inlet area today. The Medieval Climate Anomaly (1000-700 cal yr BP/950-1250 CE) is a time where extensive eutrophication is registered in the open Baltic Sea, but afforestation is recorded between 1000 and 500 cal yr BP and attributed to the expansion of spruce favored by land-use reorganization with a transition from a one-course rotation system to the three-course rotation system fully established in southern Sweden in the 13th century, and only minor environmental change is recorded in the coastal zone. The Little Ice Age is documented in our data between 400 and 250 cal yr BP/1550-1700 CE as a decrease in regional cropland (cereals) cover, possibly indicating years of poor crop harvest, and changes in the Baltic coastal zone are evidenced as low carbon and diatom accumulation rates, increase in benthic diatom taxa (low turbidity), and high abundance in diatom taxa associated with sea ice indicating a cold climate. The most significant changes occurred from about 100 cal yr BP/1850 CE up to present, with a maximum regional cover of grassland and cropland (ca. 35%) at the expense of deciduous woodland, and major changes indicative of a highly eutrophic environment recorded in the coastal zone. Organic carbon accumulation rates peaked in 1968 CE at approximately 134 g C m(2) yr(-1) before subsequently declining to present-day values of 53 g C m(2) yr(-1), mirroring a similar trend observed in diatom accumulation rates. The high organic carbon accumulation rate shows that deep unvegetated accumulation bottoms in the coastal Baltic Sea serve as carbon sinks and are worth exploring for their potential in mitigating climate change. Variation partitioning shows that 26% of the variance in the diatom assemblages is associated with land use changes. The variables grassland, cropland, and stable nitrogen isotopes are accordingly strong predictors of environmental change in the Baltic coastal zone as reflected by the diatom assemblages.

In 1995 remains of a 13th century shipwreck, “the Kronholmen cog”, was discovered in sandy soil at a golf green on the island of Gotland, Sweden. Prior to backfilling and in situ preservation, four sacrificial wood samples (SWS) of sound pine sapwood were installed for long-term monitoring of wood decaying processes. In year 2020, the site was re-opened to evaluate the protective nature of the site. All SWS and six archaeological samples were taken for a comparative analysis. Observations by light- and scanning electron microscopy showed severe microbial decomposition by fungi and bacteria. Based on occurrence of decay forms in the wood fibres, soft rot (SR) was identified as the main degrader of both SWS and in the first 2 cm of the heavily eroded archaeological material, accompanied by bacteria (type tunnelling bacteria (TB)). Moderate decay by bacteria (type erosion bacteria, EB) in archaeological samples indicated longer period during the last 700 years under waterlogged and anaerobic condition – e.g., protective. Only initial decay of erosion bacteria (EB) was observed in SWS, strongly indicating a non-protective environment during the last 25 years. Severe brown rot decay was established in SWS and archaeological wood located in the front of the wreck where burial conditions were most critical (0.5 m above groundwater level, and 0.4 below soil/air interface). Here, a total of 0.50 cm surface layer of SWS was lost, yielding an initial decay rate of 20% in 25 years. In general, surfaces were heavily attacked especially for archaeological samples, and plant roots penetrated the soft and degraded surface layer. We conclude that the site since backfilling in 1995 has been semi-oxygenated and has promoted more severe fungal decomposition of cultural heritage. Thus, the site is not able to protect and preserve the precious archaeological remains for future generations and actions must be taken. SWS are concluded to be an important technique for long term monitoring of archaeological sites preserved in situ.

We reconstruct the Holocene shore displacement of the Vastervik-Gamlebyviken area on the southeast coast of Sweden, characterised by a maritime cultural landscape and archaeological significance since the Mesolithic. Sediment cores were retrieved from four lake basins that have been raised above sea level due to the postglacial land uplift and eustatic sea level changes after the melting of the Fennoscandian Ice Sheet. The cores were radiocarbon dated and analysed for loss on ignition and diatoms. The isolation thresholds of the basins were determined using LiDAR data. The results provide evidence for the initiation of the first Littorina Sea transgression in this area at 8.5 thousand calibrated years before present (cal. ka BP). A relative sea level rise by similar to 7 m a.s.l. is recorded between 8.0 and 7.5 cal. ka BP with a highstand at similar to 22 m a.s.l. between 7.5 and 6.2 cal. ka BP. These phases coincide with the second and third Littorina Sea transgressions, respectively, in the Blekinge area, southern Sweden and are consistent with the final deglaciation of North America. After 6.2 cal. ka BP, the relative sea level dropped below 22 m a.s.l., and remained at similar to 20 m a.s.l. until 4.6 cal. ka BP coinciding with the fourth Littorina Sea transgression in Blekinge. From 4.6 to 4.2 cal. ka BP, the shore displacement shows a regression rate of 10 mm a(-1) followed by a slowdown with a mean value of 4.6 mm a(-1) until 1.6 cal. ka BP, when the relative sea level dropped below 3.3 m a.s.l. The Middle to Late Holocene highstand and other periods of minor sea level transgressions and/or higher salinity between 6.2 and 1.7 cal. ka BP are attributed to a combination of warmer climate and higher inflow of saline waters in the southern Baltic Sea due to stronger westerlies, caused by variations in the North Atlantic atmospheric patterns.

Södertörns högskola utförde i oktober 2020 i samverkan med Göteborgs universitet en arkeologisk undersökning i anslutning till lämningarna av ett medeltida skepp beläget på Kronholmens golfbana, Västergarn, Gotland. Arbetet innefattade öppnandet av tre schakt inom tidigare undersökta ytor för att ta prover samt insamlande av träprover utlagda på vraket år 1995.

Skeppsvraket visar flera karaktäristiska byggnadsdrag som är typiska för det som av forskningen definierats som en kogg. Det gäller den platta botten, den branta vinkeln till stäven och tätningen med mossa. Avviker från andra koggar gör den relativt glesa spantningen och att bottenstockarna inte är av ek utan av furu. En ny analys visar att träet skeppet byggdes av är från smålandskusten och Gotland vilket är unikt bland kända koggfynd.

Dateringen visar att skeppet bör ha byggts under perioden 1245–1251. När skeppet några årtionden senare var uttjänt övergavs det på grunt vatten i vad som då var ett sund innanför ön Kronholmen. Platsen var förmodligen vid detta tillfälle en väl använd ankrings- och hamnplats. Att området är rikt på arkeologiska lämningar, både från järnåldern och medeltiden, visar att det funnits en lång tradition av sjöfartsaktivitet och handel på platsen.