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Founded: 100 ADCategory: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in Sweden
Historical period: Roman Iron Age (Sweden)
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Fjäle fields have long history. The Fjäle farm was established c. 100 AD, and remains of two large iron age houses are still visible on the site. After 7th century AD the large iron age houses were replaced with smaller ones not far away from the old houses. During the 12th century a smaller farm was separated from the main farm, and set up in the northern end of the peoperty. The farms were burnt down during 14th century, possibly during Denmark's attack to Gotland, and were never rebuilt. The area was excavated in the 1970's and 1980's, and building remains were marked to the ground where they can sill be seen.
The farm's well is still in good condition, and the water is still drinkable. Some hundred meters south from the farm remains is the graveyard for the farm's pre-christian residents.
Reconstruction of a 14th century farmhouse and its animal shelter have been built close to the place where the medieval farmhouse stood. A folklore legend of Fjälebysen (Fjäle wraith) says that the owner of the farm still wanders around the area.
References:Easter Aquhorthies stone circle, located near Inverurie, is one of the best-preserved examples of a recumbent stone circle, and one of the few that still have their full complement of stones. It consists of a ring of nine stones, eight of which are grey granite and one red jasper. Two more grey granite stones flank a recumbent of red granite flecked with crystals and lines of quartz. The circle is particularly notable for its builders' use of polychromy in the stones, with the reddish ones situated on the SSW side and the grey ones opposite.
The placename Aquhorthies derives from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning 'field of prayer', and may indicate a 'long continuity of sanctity' between the Stone or Bronze Age circle builders and their much later Gaelic successors millennia later. The circle's surroundings were landscaped in the late 19th century, and it sits within a small fenced and walled enclosure. A stone dyke, known as a roundel, was built around the circle some time between 1847 and 1866–7.