12 August 2025

Archaeologists visit Lund

Before the summer break, a group of archaeologists from the Saxo Institute and the Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies visited Lund. The trip was planned and organised by Eva Andersson Strand, UCPH and Peter Jordan, Lund.

The first stop was the excavation in the Grynmalaren district, a large archaeological excavation in central Lund taking place ahead of the planned construction of a new residential building. Archaeologists are currently investigating the site and mapping the traces of the people who lived here during the Middle Ages.

Sebastian Boström, archaeologist at Kulturen, the Museum of Cultural History in Lund, gave a guided tour.

Many interesting finds, some of which may date back to the time of Lund’s founding 1000 years ago, have been unearthed so far. These include bone fragments with engraved runes, various types of ceramics, toys and gaming pieces, coins, combs, and much more.

All finds are registered and packed.

Before heading to the next excavation, the UCPH group visited colleagues and labs at the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University.

A comprehensive set of artefacts from various periods to be used for teaching is lent to the department by the Historical Museum at Lund University.

Nicolò Dell'Unto and Danilo Marco Campanaro demonstrated the new version of 'Dynamic Collections' (https://www.darklab.lu.se/digital-collections/dynamic-collections/), an online platform for archiving and curating 3D artefact models. The platform is created in the framework of the Digital Archaeology Laboratory (DARKLab). It is a part of Swedigarch, the Swedish National Infrastructure for Digital Archaeology, and facilitates access to collections for teaching and research.

Nicolò Dell'Unto demonstrating “Dynamic Collections”.

Closer collaboration within archaeology between Lund and Copenhagen has high priority for both institutions, and a return visit by Lund to Copenhagen is planned for November.

The final stop was the excavation at Uppåkra. Uppåkra is classified as one of the largest Iron Age central places in Scandinavia and among northern Europe’s richest sites for archaeological finds.

Guided tour by Torbjörn Ahlström, Professor of Historical Osteology at Lund University.
The various cultural layers from the past reveal one of northern Europe’s largest centres of power.

Excavations have uncovered evidence of a powerful centre with impressive hall buildings, a cult house, and a variety of ceramic, bone, and glass artefacts, as well as metal objects in iron, bronze and gold, suggesting it was a major political, economic, and religious hub. For more information about Uppåkra  please see Uppåkra – Hallen på Höjden under järnåldern

Archaeologist Annika Knarrström demonstrates some of the finds, which include artefacts such as fibulae (brooches), guldgubbar (small gold foil figures), glass beads and fragments of pottery.
Loom weights in various shapes and sizes.

Topics