Tjelvar's Grave

Slite, Sweden

Tjelvar’s Grave is one of the best preserved stone ship settings in Gotland. According the legend Tjelvar, the first man lived in Gotland, is buried there. Archaeologists have dated the grave to made in the late Bronze Ages, 1100-500 BC.

Tjelvar’s grave is 18 metres long and 5 metres wide. The height of the gunwale stones diminishes towards the centre of the ship, which has also been filled with stones to form a boat-deck. A plundered stone-slab coffin, containing cremated bones and a few potsherds, was uncovered in an excavation in the 1930s.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1100-500 BC
Category: Cemeteries, mausoleums and burial places in Sweden
Historical period: Bronze Age (Sweden)

More Information

www.segotland.se

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

april evans (3 years ago)
We As cool to see the grave and we found berries to eat :).
Ryan Evans (3 years ago)
I'd like to think Tjelvar was a real person and is buried here.... even if the legend itself is apocryphal. Whoever was interred here though, it's a historic site and well worth a visit.
Ashraf B (3 years ago)
An interesting site with lots of history
Sebastian Hökby (3 years ago)
Peaceful spirits in the beautiful forests of Gotland
Jorgen Hedman (6 years ago)
En rofylld fascinerande plats.
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Château de Foix

The Château de Foix dominates the town of Foix. An important tourist site, it is known as a centre of the Cathars. Built on an older 7th-century fortification, the castle is known from 987. In 1002, it was mentioned in the will of Roger I, Count of Carcassonne, who bequeathed the fortress to his youngest child, Bernard. In effect, the family ruling over the region were installed here which allowed them to control access to the upper Ariège valley and to keep surveillance from this strategic point over the lower land, protected behind impregnable walls.

In 1034, the castle became capital of the County of Foix and played a decisive role in medieval military history. During the two following centuries, the castle was home to Counts with shining personalities who became the soul of the Occitan resistance during the crusade against the Albigensians.