“A unique discovery,” archaeologist says, “will change history”

Long-held ideas about life in northern Scandinavia are being challenged after unexpected discoveries during routine construction work.

Archaeologists say the evidence points to a far more settled past than previously believed.

Archaeologists working near Umeå have uncovered remains that indicate permanent settlement in northern Sweden around 3,000 years ago. The discoveries were made during excavations linked to the construction of a new road.

For decades, researchers believed that people living this far north during the Bronze Age survived mainly as hunter-gatherers. The newly found remains challenge that assumption.

Houses and hearths

According to Västerbotten Museum, the team identified house structures dated to around 1000 BC.

The buildings appear to have had wooden walls and roofs, with a central fireplace providing heat and light.

Inside and around the houses, archaeologists found large quantities of animal bones. These indicate that the inhabitants kept domesticated animals, including goats, sheep and possibly cattle.

Signs of farming

One of the most significant discoveries was charred grain. Researchers say this is strong evidence that crops were cultivated locally, pointing to established agricultural practices during the Bronze Age.

“We have made some truly unique discoveries that shed new light on how northern Sweden and Scandinavia were populated,” said archaeologist Jans Heinerud of Västerbotten Museum in a press release.

The finds suggest a more complex economy than previously thought, combining farming with animal husbandry.

Wider connections

Ceramic fragments recovered at the site have also drawn attention. While the clay used in the pottery appears to be local, the design tells a different story.

“The clay in the pottery pieces we found was local, but the shape of the vessel brings to mind Northern Germany and the Lusatian culture,” Heinerud told Dagens Nyheter.

He added that the vessels were likely made locally, inspired by ideas brought north through contact and exchange.

Rethinking the past

Archaeologists say the discoveries mean that northern Sweden was not isolated during the Bronze Age.

Instead, it appears to have been part of wider cultural networks across Europe.

Sources: Västerbotten Museum, Dagens Nyheter

This article is made and published by Camilla Jessen, who may have used AI in the preparation