Lovön
Encyclopedia
Lovön is an island located in the Swedish Lake Mälaren
in Ekerö Municipality
of Stockholm County
. It was a municipality of its own until 1952, when it was joined with Ekerö Municipality. Lovön's greatest attraction is Drottningholm Palace
and its many public gardens, which were built on the island in 1580.
, much research has gone into its history. It is estimated that Lovön has been inhabited since around the 25th century BC.
Stone Age
Traces of hunting
and fishing
camps dated as old as 2500 B.C. have been found by archaeologists on Lovön. Harpoons made of bone, stone tools, ceramic bowls, and remains of huts are some artifacts that have been located and researched. It is also believed that these camps were seasonal quarters rather than year-round habitations. The island was at this point a set of broken-up smaller islands, since the water level in Lake Mälaren was significantly higher than it is today.
Nordic Bronze Age
During the Nordic Bronze Age permanent settlement began. As to the water level dropped off, more land was exposed, and the smaller islands were shaped into a coherent landmass. New wetlands were created in the low-lying areas, moist and fertile. Archaeological studies show a large amount of juniper
and grass pollen — a sign that much of Lovön was open land for cattle
-grazing. Archaeologists have found smaller living quarters around the spot where the church is located today. 30 or so stone burial mounds
have been found scattered throughout the island from this period. From the bone materials found in these burial mounds it has established that only men were put in burial mounds, and only one person per generation received this type of burial, suggesting that the buried men were chieftains. Towards the end of the Bronze Age, pollen counts indicate abundant spruce
trees growing in the open fields.
Iron Age
During the Iron Age the waters of Mälaren receded again and new land masses were created, causing an increase in the population. Farming families, tilling the fertile lower lands, became the norm. Each family would typically have their own set of fields and a family graveyard
, placed on infertile lands. Consequently, many of the graves have been untouched until modern times.
The pre-Christian tradition of burial was cremation
on a funeral pyre
. The remains were gathered and covered with selected stones, and then packed with dirt. Towards the very end of the Iron Age Christianity gradually made its way into this region of Sweden, where the pagan
ways were, however, slow to die. Burials of converted pagans did not involve burning the body, but rather dressing it in a simple white dress and burial in the ground. The grave site was rectangular, usually oriented east-west, and, at times, lined with stones.
Late Middle Ages
By the late Middle Ages, the family farms had combined into villages. Commonly between two and four farms would combine together into a village. Names such as Norrby (North Village), Söderby (South Village) Rinkeby, Edeby, and so on, many of which are still current, derive from this period. During this period, part of the island was taken as royal property; the son of Gustav Vasa, Johan III, erected a stone house on the island in 1579. This house would become Drottningholm Palace
.
World Heritage Site
in 1991 for the Drottningholm Palace and surrounding gardens. The island's sights are a major tourist destination, especially during the summer.
The oldest section of Lovö kyrka, the island's church (not to be confused with the castle church of Drottningholm Palace), has been dated back to the later part of the 12th century. One researcher, Berit Wallenberg, claims it was built as early as the 11th century. It is also believed that an even older wooden church existed on this site. Church sermons are held in the church, normally once a month, and for certain Christian holidays.
of the church was created around 1670. The architect is believed to be Nicodemus Tessin the Elder
, who was working on Drottningholm Palace around this same time. Inside the church are 30 gravestones, several of which belonged to people employed at Drottningholm palace. The interior was renovated in 2004.
are currently located around the church. The stones date from the early 11th century, and contain some names of the local people, such as Torgils, Signiut, Holmer, Vig, Tingfast, and Johan.
Mälaren
Lake Mälaren is the third-largest lake in Sweden, after Lakes Vänern and Vättern. Its area is 1,140 km² and its greatest depth is 64 m. Mälaren spans 120 kilometers from east to west...
in Ekerö Municipality
Ekerö Municipality
Ekerö Municipality is a municipality in Stockholm County in east central Sweden. The name comes from the island Ekerö, and literally means "Oak Island". Its seat is located in the town of Ekerö....
of Stockholm County
Stockholm County
Stockholm County is a county or län on the Baltic sea coast of Sweden. It borders Uppsala County and Södermanland County. It also borders Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The city of Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm County is divided by the historic provinces of Uppland and Södermanland...
. It was a municipality of its own until 1952, when it was joined with Ekerö Municipality. Lovön's greatest attraction is Drottningholm Palace
Drottningholm Palace
The Drottningholm Palace is the private residence of the Swedish royal family. It is located in Drottningholm. It is built on the island Lovön , and is one of Sweden's Royal Palaces. It was originally built in the late 16th century. It served as a residence of the Swedish royal court for most of...
and its many public gardens, which were built on the island in 1580.
History
There is much known about the history of this rather small island. Owing to its status today as a World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
, much research has gone into its history. It is estimated that Lovön has been inhabited since around the 25th century BC.
Stone AgeStone AgeThe Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
Traces of huntingHunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
camps dated as old as 2500 B.C. have been found by archaeologists on Lovön. Harpoons made of bone, stone tools, ceramic bowls, and remains of huts are some artifacts that have been located and researched. It is also believed that these camps were seasonal quarters rather than year-round habitations. The island was at this point a set of broken-up smaller islands, since the water level in Lake Mälaren was significantly higher than it is today.
Nordic Bronze AgeNordic Bronze AgeThe Nordic Bronze Age is the name given by Oscar Montelius to a period and a Bronze Age culture in Scandinavian pre-history, c. 1700-500 BC, with sites that reached as far east as Estonia. Succeeding the Late Neolithic culture, its ethnic and linguistic affinities are unknown in the absence of...
During the Nordic Bronze Age permanent settlement began. As to the water level dropped off, more land was exposed, and the smaller islands were shaped into a coherent landmass. New wetlands were created in the low-lying areas, moist and fertile. Archaeological studies show a large amount of juniperJuniper
Junipers are coniferous plants in the genus Juniperus of the cypress family Cupressaceae. Depending on taxonomic viewpoint, there are between 50-67 species of juniper, widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, from the Arctic, south to tropical Africa in the Old World, and to the...
and grass pollen — a sign that much of Lovön was open land for cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
-grazing. Archaeologists have found smaller living quarters around the spot where the church is located today. 30 or so stone burial mounds
Tumulus
A tumulus is a mound of earth and stones raised over a grave or graves. Tumuli are also known as barrows, burial mounds, Hügelgrab or kurgans, and can be found throughout much of the world. A tumulus composed largely or entirely of stones is usually referred to as a cairn...
have been found scattered throughout the island from this period. From the bone materials found in these burial mounds it has established that only men were put in burial mounds, and only one person per generation received this type of burial, suggesting that the buried men were chieftains. Towards the end of the Bronze Age, pollen counts indicate abundant spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
trees growing in the open fields.
Iron AgeIron AgeThe Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
During the Iron Age the waters of Mälaren receded again and new land masses were created, causing an increase in the population. Farming families, tilling the fertile lower lands, became the norm. Each family would typically have their own set of fields and a family graveyardGraveyard
A graveyard is any place set aside for long-term burial of the dead, with or without monuments such as headstones...
, placed on infertile lands. Consequently, many of the graves have been untouched until modern times.
The pre-Christian tradition of burial was cremation
Cremation
Cremation is the process of reducing bodies to basic chemical compounds such as gasses and bone fragments. This is accomplished through high-temperature burning, vaporization and oxidation....
on a funeral pyre
Funeral Pyre
"Funeral Pyre" is The Jam's thirteenth single released on 6 June 1981. Backed by the B-side "Disguises", a cover of a Who track, it reached #4 in the UK Singles chart....
. The remains were gathered and covered with selected stones, and then packed with dirt. Towards the very end of the Iron Age Christianity gradually made its way into this region of Sweden, where the pagan
Norse paganism
Norse paganism is the religious traditions of the Norsemen, a Germanic people living in the Nordic countries. Norse paganism is therefore a subset of Germanic paganism, which was practiced in the lands inhabited by the Germanic tribes across most of Northern and Central Europe in the Viking Age...
ways were, however, slow to die. Burials of converted pagans did not involve burning the body, but rather dressing it in a simple white dress and burial in the ground. The grave site was rectangular, usually oriented east-west, and, at times, lined with stones.
Late Middle AgesLate Middle AgesThe Late Middle Ages was the period of European history generally comprising the 14th to the 16th century . The Late Middle Ages followed the High Middle Ages and preceded the onset of the early modern era ....
and on
By the late Middle Ages, the family farms had combined into villages. Commonly between two and four farms would combine together into a village. Names such as Norrby (North Village), Söderby (South Village) Rinkeby, Edeby, and so on, many of which are still current, derive from this period. During this period, part of the island was taken as royal property; the son of Gustav Vasa, Johan III, erected a stone house on the island in 1579. This house would become Drottningholm PalaceDrottningholm Palace
The Drottningholm Palace is the private residence of the Swedish royal family. It is located in Drottningholm. It is built on the island Lovön , and is one of Sweden's Royal Palaces. It was originally built in the late 16th century. It served as a residence of the Swedish royal court for most of...
.
Today
Lovön has about 1,000 permanent inhabitants. The major employer is the Swedish National Defence Radio Establishment, which has been located there since 1942. A large part of the island was designated as a UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
in 1991 for the Drottningholm Palace and surrounding gardens. The island's sights are a major tourist destination, especially during the summer.
The Church
Interior
The sanctuarySanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
of the church was created around 1670. The architect is believed to be Nicodemus Tessin the Elder
Nicodemus Tessin the Elder
Nicodemus Tessin the Elder was an important Swedish architect.-Biography:Nicodemus Tessin was born in Stralsund in Pomerania and came to Sweden as a young man. There he met and worked with the architect Simon de la Vallée...
, who was working on Drottningholm Palace around this same time. Inside the church are 30 gravestones, several of which belonged to people employed at Drottningholm palace. The interior was renovated in 2004.
Exterior
The church is unusually small and narrow. It was extended to the east, first in the 13th and further in the 17th century. Churches built during this time were built with a weapons room, a foyer where people going to church had to lay down their arms before entering the church itself. This weapons house was demolished in 1798, and an entry was made in the west side of the attached church tower.Lovö Runestones
Five runestones known as the Lovö RunestonesLovö Runestones
The Lovö Runestones are five Viking Age memorial runestones that are located outside the Lovö church on the island of Lovön in Lake Mälaren, which is in Stockholm County, Sweden, and in the historic province of Uppland.-U 46:...
are currently located around the church. The stones date from the early 11th century, and contain some names of the local people, such as Torgils, Signiut, Holmer, Vig, Tingfast, and Johan.