Alvastra pile-dwelling

The archaeologists found stilts made of deciduous trees, notably oak, hazel, elm and crabapple.

It was the tribe's or the clan's social centre where they gathered for festivities, especially after the summer's hunting and harvesting season.

There are about 100 hearths of limestone evenly distributed across the dwelling, which shows that there were no permanent houses, only huts supported by the many hazel stilts.

The remains of craftmanship are few, and so the tools have been transported to the pile dwelling from the workshops, where they were probably sacrificed to the gods.

Among the most remarkable finds are double edged battle axes, which appear to have played a role in the cult.