Gamla Uppsala, Vendel, and Anundshog

Veiw of the stone setting from the top of the Anundshog mound. They look smaller than they are.
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Gamla Uppsala is one of Sweden's most outstanding prehistoric sites. The three main royal mounds (named after the gods: Thor, Odin, and Frey) were constructed approximately 1,500 years ago for the commemoration of several dead kings of Svea...and possibly a woman. Since then, the origins, full purpose, and relation to the mounds in society have been discussed at length. There is a fourth large mound called the "Mound of Assembly" and some much smaller ones that branch off like a fish-tale from the bigger ones.

The King's Mounds at Gamla Uppsala. They are much more impressive in real life, than can be seen in the piture!
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We visited on a fairly sunny day, and were left to explore the mounds and nearby churchyard (which had an impressive bell tower) at our ease. Although I found it an invaluable experience, I think that anyone who was not historically or archaeologically inclined would have found it...tedious. To the common eye, the mounds appear to be nothing more than big hills...that are fenced off. The history behind them is fascinating though, and the nearby Gamla Uppsala museum is well worth a gander. There is a little something for everyone in the museum from a mythology section, to Viking/Vendel age armor(amazingly detailed craftsmanship), treasures, and a interactive play area for kids. There was a small fee for admission, but it wasn’t much, and walking the grounds was free. If you take your time, you can spot several very famous artifacts in the museum. Most of the displays were spectacular, and by that, I mean I pressed my nose against the glass and stopped blinking....

...highly enjoyable experience...and beat excavating in the rain any day!

The chuch-yard and bell tower at Gamla Uppsala.
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Cameras weren’t allowed.

*pouts*

From there, we drove to the site of Vendel. Historically, it should have been an interesting site...but it wasn’t. Blasphemy! The boat-graves hadn’t been reconstructed, and overall there was nothing to see besides for a modern grave-site and an obelisk monument standing in a grassy field. There was a small and very badly kept visitor information room which didn’t have electricity. Overall, it was poorly done (mainly consisting of b&w photocopies being stapled to the wall), covered in pigeon dung, and not very informative. I think you would catch a disease there before you caught insperation...although, the church itself was nice. All the artifacts from Vendel had been moved to more impressive museums for safe keeping, and I saw them at Gamla Uppsala and the National Antiquities Museum in Stockholm. Overall, they was very little to see at the Vendel site. Unless--like me--you only want to say you have been there, than it isn’t worth the effort.

What is left of the Vendel grave-site, with a modern obleisk to commemorate the site.
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"I have been to Vendel!" <---Whooo.

What IS worth the effort is Anundshog! There are five large boat-shaped stone settings at Anundshog, and the largest burial mounds in Sweden (as well as some smaller ones). It was absolutely massive! It has a large rune-stone that towered over me, not to mention the massive size of some of the stones in the boat settings! Unlike at Gamla Uppsala, you are allowed to climb the burial mound, and I highly recommend doing so (unless you have health problems). Until you climb to the top, you can not properly grasp how huge it is! It also gives you a great view of the site as a whole. From the ground, you can tell the standing stones are in a row, but from above you can see the distinct boat shape. Be cautious around the smaller mounds which have stinging nettles in the center of them (nettles are proof a grave has been robbed since they like to grow in areas where the soil will catch the rain and has been disturbed). There were several nicely illustrated and informative reader-boards for visitors.

Overall, it was a highly enjoyable experience...and beat excavating in the rain any day!