Ancient Europe, Northern Europe: 08 SWEDEN (Scandinavia): Bronze Age

Bronze Age (1700-500 BC)

This period is marked by the importation of bronze from the east Mediterranean (copper was not mined locally at that time and Sweden has no tin deposits), and the carving of pictures on rocks (petroglyphy). The imported Bronze was exchanged for amber (the fossilised resin from coniferous trees), furs, slaves and gems; bronze was used for weapons, agricultural tools and jewellery. Woollen cloths replaced animal skins and became the primary form of clothing. A sophisticated system of trade evolved that extended across much of Europe.

Rock carvings show horses being used for riding and driving. Cattle are shown in pairs harnessed to a plough, boats were very large, without masts, but with at least thirty pairs of oars or more.

Stone tombs remained in use during the early part of Bronze Age but their use was gradually replaced by burial mounds – barrows (earth), cairns (stones) – along the south and west coasts of Sweden. The corpses were generally cremated, the ashes being put in burial urns which were then placed in burial chambers.

North of Hovgården on Adelsö (I), Ekerö Municipality, Stockholm County, are graves and mounds from the Bronze Age (1800-500 BC) and others dating from c.1050 to 1520.

The Nordic Bronze Age (1100-500 BC) looks to have been a prosperous period but the succeeding Pre-Roman Iron Age in Scandinavia seems to have been a period of economic hardship. Suggested explanations for this are trade links with the south broken by the advancing Celts, a serious drop in temperature, or emigration.