Southern Sweden likely consists of the furthest extent of the Nordic Bronze Age where blades of the Sögel and Wohlde type have been found. Approximately five relevant blades have been identified this far north and are currently in the collection of the Swedish History Museum in Stockholm. Typologically, the blades show many similar features to the Sögel and Wohlde blades, however contextually they seem to have been treated differently since the majority of blades are single finds from bogs or rivers. This stands in stark contrast to the main cultural zone where Sögel-Wohlde objects are primarily found in burial mounds related to an upcoming warrior elite. The different treatment suggests that it may not have been acceptable to include these objects in the local burial practices and perhaps these blades reached Sweden as part of an exchange of prestige goods. The only known example of a blade from a burial is a trapezoidal Wohlde type from Karl Gustav parish in western Sweden.
Despite the distance, the Swedish blades are relatively diverse and show signs of a high degree of craftsmanship. One of the more elaborately decorated blades from Vreta Kloster is a prime example that has already been published by Schwab et al. (2010). The Vreta Kloster blade has been cast in the Sögel tradition based on its design and shape of the hilt with four ring rivets. However, the decorative motifs are taken to another level by using an inlay technique that has its closest parallels in the well-known Nebra swords from Saxony-Anhalt. A second Sögel blade was found not too far away at Bärbo in the Nyköpingsån river, which may be a similar parallel to the Nebra blades simply based on the dimensions and stocky width of the hilt (Meller, 2013, 505). Again this blade was not buried alongside its past owner, meaning that a more stratified society with warrior elites may not have been present in Sweden. Moreover, the Bärbo blade was deliberately broken in two pieces. A practice of ‘ritual killing’ of the object that is unknown in the Sögel-Wohlde district.
The Swedish blades are prime examples of early Bronze Age craftsmanship as well as the extent of cultural connections throughout Central and Northern Europe. The blades themselves are similar in design but still different. The question whether these blades were locally made or imported is difficult to answer, however the fact that these blades were treated differently in prehistory may provide valuable clues.
We are very grateful to the team at the Swedish History Museum and Thomas Eriksson for granting us permission to study their artefacts on such a short notice.
Sources:
- Meller, H., 2013. Der Hortfund von Nebra im Spiegel frühbronzezeitlicher Deponierungssitten. In: H. Meller, F. Bertemes, H.-R. Bork & R. Risch (eds.). 1600 – Kultureller Umbruch im Schatten des Thera-Ausbruchs? 4. Mitteldeutscher Archäologentag vom 14. bis 16. Oktober 2011 in Halle (Saale). Halle (Saale): Salzland Druck GmbH & Co. KG.
- Schwab, R., Ullén, I. & Wunderlich, C.-H., 2010. A sword from Vreta Kloster, and black patinated bronze in Early Bronze Age Europe. Journal of Nordic Archaeological Science, 17, pp.27-35.