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.

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.

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.

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?

Updated: 2019-08-21 13:18

Do you have a point of view or ask about the website?

Firstname Lastname

Message *

E-mail *

Telephone number

Send me a copy of the message

I would like an follow up answer

Magnificent finds

Rune axe

The scallop shell from Santiago de Compostela

Shed knife