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InScandinavian prehistory,[1] sometimes specificallySwedish prehistory, theVendel Period, orVendel Age (Swedish:Vendeltiden;c. 540–790 AD) appears between theMigration Period and theViking Age. The name is taken from the rich boat inhumation cemetery atVendel parish church,Uppland. Unlike the preceding and succeeding eras, the Vendel Period left very few precious metal artifacts orrunic inscriptions. Instead, it is extremely rich inanimal art on copper-alloy objects. It is also known forguldgubbar, tiny embossed gold foil images, and elaborate helmets with embossed decoration similar to the one found atSutton Hoo in England.[2]
During the period, Swedish expeditions began to explore the waterways of territories which later becameRussia,Ukraine, andBelarus. TheElder Futhark writing system was abandoned in favor of theYounger Futhark, virtually simultaneously over the whole of Scandinavia. Somerunestones survive, most notably those atRök andSparlösa, both fromc. 800. Other written sources are few and hard to interpret: a few Icelandic sagas, the tale ofBeowulf, and accounts from some southern European writers. Earlier Swedish historians tried to make use of these to create a coherent history, but this effort has largely been abandoned, and the period is now mostly studied by archaeologists.[3]
The Germanic Iron Age is divided into the Early Germanic Iron Age (EGIA) and the Late Germanic Iron Age (LGIA). It is particularly for Sweden that the late Germanic iron age spanning between 550–800 is called the Vendel era. In Norway it is more common to refer to the period as theMerovingian Age, while the Danish refer to it as the Younger Germanic Iron Age.
The late Germanic Iron Age begins with thefall of the Western Roman Empire and the rise of the Gothic kingdoms in Europe, later replaced by theFranks, theLombards and theAvar Khaganate. After the Western Roman Empire fell, gold became scarce and Scandinavians began to make objects of gilded bronze, with decorative figures of interlacing animals. During the early Germanic Iron Age, decorations tended to be representational; the animal figures were drawn in more basic forms. In the later Germanic Iron Age, artistic styles became more abstract, symbolic, and intricate, including figures with interlaced shapes and limbs.
The upheaval in Europe appears to have lessened somewhat due to the gradual cessation of theGothic Wars. Emperor Justinian'sEternal Peace (532) with the ShahanshahKhosrau I ofIran as well as the Byzantine reconquest of the Italian peninsula with the capitulation of theGoths south of thePo river (555), the completion of the Byzantine reconquest (562) may be seen in context of what has been described as the Vendel period. TheMerovingians have united theGaulish Romans and theBelgae. TheFranks establishing the Merovingan dynasty as "Kings of the Franks" (since509).
InUppland, in what today is the east-central part of Sweden,Old Uppsala was probably the centre of religious and political life. It had both a well-knownsacred grove and greatRoyal Mounds.
Several areas with rich burial gifts, indicative of high status or royalty, have been found, including well-preserved boat inhumation graves atVendel andValsgärde, and tumuli atGamla Uppsala. These were used for several generations.
Some of the riches were probably acquired through the control of mining districts and the production of iron. The rulers had troops of mounted elite warriors with costly armour. Grave goods of these mounted warriors include stirrups and saddle ornaments of birds of prey in gilded bronze with encrusted garnets.
Chess pieces made ofivory in theRoman style are located in the western grave. Three Middle Easterncameos and buttons made ofgold have also been found, together withFrankish clothes made of gold thread.[4]
Games were popular, as is shown in finds oftafl games, including pawns and dice.
TheSutton Hoo helmet closely resembles helmets found in Gamla Uppsala, Vendel and Valsgärde, sharing elements such asboar imagery andpressblech foil decoration, showing that theAnglo-Saxon elite had extensive contacts with the Swedish elite.[5]
Mounted elite warriors are mentioned in the work of the 6th century Goth scholarJordanes, who wrote that the Swedes had the best horses beside theThuringians. They also echo much later in the sagas, where kingAdils is always described as fighting on horseback (both againstÁli andHrólf Kraki).Snorri Sturluson wrote that Adils had the best horses of his days. The epic ofBeowulf also describes legendary tales about the Swedish Vendel times, including great wars called theSwedish-Geatish wars between the Swedish house ofScylfling and theGeatish house ofWulfling.[6]
That someSwedish legendary royals of them could be historical is supported by possibly independent references to them inBeowulf andNorse sagas. Geats could have been a part of theAnglo-Saxon settlement of Britain. They probably did not have any major role but could have been described by English sources asJutes.[7] The Wulfling dynasty inGeatland might be related to the house ofWuffingas.[8]
