Kung Skutes hög

Sweden's largest burial mound, Kung Skutes hög, is a mystery. Who lies beneath and why did locals believe a legendary king founded the surrounding area?

The enigmatic individual known as King Skute's burial mound, Kung Skutes hög, is one of six large mounds that form a burial field located just north of Uppsala, Sweden. Created during either the Bronze Age (1800-500 BC) and/or the Iron Age, the mound is a curious piece of Sweden's ancient history. The mound, which is situated near Lövstalöt in Bälinge socken, near the border of Ärentuna socken, is a part of a grave field located just north of the place where Björklinge ån breaks through Uppsalaåsen.

Hålvägar, the main land route to northern Uppland and further north from the Bronze Age until the great straight road was constructed in the 1600s, are nearby. The mound, although not yet archaeologically explored, is said to be the resting place of a prominent local resident. However, the legends may have embellished the facts, as there is no concrete evidence to support the claim that King Skute founded the Skuttungebygden. Kung Skutes hög may also be related to Fornborgar i Uppsala kommun, a fortified site located a kilometer north of the mound.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata

Written by Nik Frost

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