Get an overview of the time period.
Ceramic design evolved drastically during the Stone Age. An unusual discovery in Turinge, Sweden offers a glimpse into this time of transition. Pottery found at Turinge features both traditional and new decorative styles, reflecting a cultural and artisanal shift during the Neolithic period.
Most of the objects housed in the Swedish History Museum’s collections originate from within the borders of present-day Sweden. None of them are older than approximately 14,000 years.
Skateholm, located on the southern coast of Skåne, is one of Sweden’s most significant Stone Age sites. Archaeologists have discovered 7,000-year-old graves here, along with unique finds and traces of ritual ceremonies. One of the most well-known is the grave known as “the old man and the child.”
Few skeletons from the early Nordic Stone Age have been discovered. One of the rare examples is the so-called Barum woman, formerly known as the Bäckaskog woman. She was buried nearly 9,000 years ago, in Barum, Skåne and her remains are on display at the Swedish History Museum.
More than 14,000 years ago, before 12,000 BC, the first people followed the melting inland ice into the land that we now call Sweden.
In archaeology, there are several methods for both relative and absolute dating.
An archaeologist is a researcher who studies humanity’s past through material remains. This can include buildings, objects, graves, settlements, or other traces left by people. The purpose of archaeology is to understand past societies, their structure, ways of life, economy, beliefs, and technology.
An osteologist is a specialist in skeletons, both human and animal. The word "osteology" comes from the Greek osteon, meaning bone, and logos, meaning study – so it literally means "the study of bones."
Explore a 3D-model of the Alunda Moose in the collections of the Swedish History Museum
Metal has played a pivotal role in early Swedish history. The oldest metal objects found in Sweden date back to the Stone Age and illustrate how early societies used, and were influenced by, this novel material.
Water has always connected people. As early as 9,000 years ago, humans were crossing seas and lakes, and the earliest journeys to Gotland bear witness to advanced seafaring at a remarkably early stage.
Stone Age people built monumental tombs, so-called passage graves, from massive stone blocks. The largest concentration of these is in Falbygden, in the province of Västergötland. Explore some objects excavated from this area, from the collections of the Swedish History Museum.
At Lillberget, just outside Överkalix in northern Sweden, archaeologists have uncovered traces of the Comb Ware culture, one of the earliest ceramic traditions in northern Europe. The finds show that this site was an important hub for hunting, fishing, and trade during the Stone Age.
Deep in the forests of Norrbotten lie Sweden’s oldest burial monuments. Over 7,000 years ago, people were laid to rest here, covered in sand and stones colored with red ochre.
Captivating stories about people and objects from prehistoric times.
Discover fascinating articles and objects in the museum's knoeldge database, the History hub.
Search for articles and objects in the History hub. Sort and filter by time period and theme to find what's relevant to your specific interests.
