Sollerön has a very unique history. Many people know about the old farming community with the mountain hut system on the mainland. But how many know that Vikings lived here during the Viking Age?
In the 1920s, when stone was needed to build the road embankment to Gesunda, ancient finds were discovered – in what was thought to be cairns – that turned out to be Viking graves.
Splendid swords and many other interesting finds have been excavated from the ground at the Viking burial grounds in Bengtsarvet and Utanmyra. The finds show that the Sollerön Vikings traded with Birka, Sigtuna and other places in the Mälardalen. Even outside the Nordic countries. Splendid swords are, for example, made in the Rhine Valley.
Sollerö resident Astrid Gustafsson received the Mora Municipality Culture Prize 2020 for her many years of exploration of Sollerö's Vikings.
“The Vikings are often portrayed as warlike and raiders, but that was not the case,” says Astrid. “They were farmers, hunters and fishermen with their own culture and Æsir beliefs. The Icelandic nobles, for example, sent their sons to the continent to be educated. Being brave had a high status among the Vikings. That may be one of the reasons why they dared to set out on boat trips far from home.”
Astrid's knowledge is impressive. To preserve her knowledge, the Local Heritage Association applied for a cultural heritage grant for a film from Mora Municipality. The grant made the film, which was shot in August 2022, possible.
Now it was time for the premiere in Lärkasalen, where about 30 interested people had gathered.
After the 52-minute film (filmed and edited by Torbjörn Nääs), the main character gave a speech in which she said that she is very happy that the film became a reality and especially happy that the teachers at Sollerö School want the schoolchildren to learn more about the history of Sollerön.
Astrid and her colleagues in the Local History Association's Viking Group and others have listened to the teachers and will spread historical knowledge to the young generation.
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