The grave field of Gödåker

Gödåkers gravfält in Gödåker, Uppsala municipality, is an archaeological site dating to the iron age, approximately 100-400 AD. The grave field consists of 26 fornlämningar, including three grave mounds, 14 round stone settings, and nine standing stones. The largest mound is 14 meters in diameter. In the grave field’s southwestern corner, there is an offering well with timbered sides and edges.

In the early 1900s, cleaning the well revealed remains of woven baskets and bones from a dog, cattle, and human. Excavations were mainly conducted in 1915 and 1924, during which archaeologists found gold finger rings, a wine vessel, and a larger so-called Hemmoorskärl of bronze. Between these years, a blacksmith named Herbert Rettig bought 70 ar of the archaeological site and donated it to Tensta parish. Today, Tensta parish owns the grave field and the Tensta local history association is responsible for its care. The name Gödåker had the form ’Gydakrum’ in 1492, whose original form is believed to have been ’Gudhiuaker’, meaning ’Gudinnans åker’.

A rare meadow vegetation, consisting of herb-rich dry meadow, herb-rich fresh meadow, and knylhavre meadow, can be found at the site. The meadow teems with diverse species, including darrgrass, flock fennel, goldenrod, and oxeye daisy, which grow prolifically, while black clover, sand violet, wood sorrel, and field speedwell appear sparsely. In 1986, the endangered species toppjungfrulin was also observed. The meadow is managed through annual mowing, and the hay is removed.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons