Lödöse museum

Magnificent finds

More than half a million objects have been excavated at Lödöse during the 100 years that have elapsed since railway workers unwittingly blasted the chancel at St Olof’s church in 1905. The majority of the objects are stored by Lödöse Museum, and each one of them has its own unique story to tell.

En kvinna i medeltida kläder håller fram en medeltida runyxa.

Rune axe

In September 1983, an axe was found under a floor that was being ripped up on Eriksgatan in Lödöse. The axe was virtually undamaged, and they quickly realised that it was a highly unusual find.

En pilgrimsmussla.

The scallop shell from Santiago de Compostela

In Lödöse, they found what is known as a scallop shell of Saint James. The shell came from Santiago de Compostela in Spain and dates from the 12th century. James the Apostle was the patron saint of pilgrims and his burial place is one of the most revered pilgrimage destinations in Europe.

Ett par händer med vita handskar håller en medeltida skälkniv.

Shed knife

In the runic inscription on a medieval weaver’s shed knife, it was possible to read a rare declaration of love from the Middle Ages. Was it a wedding gift? Perhaps it was a somewhat melancholy declaration of unreciprocated love?