Summary

Pile dwellings

The Alvastra pile-dwelling (58°17′N 14°41′E / 58.283°N 14.683°E / 58.283; 14.683) is an archaeological site in Sweden indicative of a pile dwelling culture from ca w:3000 BC in neolithic Scandinavia. South Scandinavia has many types of cult centres, but the Alvastra pile dwelling is unique in Northern Europe and is the only of its kind found outside of the Alps (Alpine Pile Dweller culture).

• Pile dwellings are generally believed to be a seasonal social and religious centre of a tribe. On this site, in the dwelling the people using it left objects from the Funnelbeaker culture and pottery from the Pitted Ware culture. Circa two thirds of the pile dwelling was excavated by archaeologists in three phases:
• 1908–18,
• 1928–39 and
• 1976–80.

Construction The archaeologists found stilts made of deciduous trees, notably oak, hazel, elm and crabapple. A dendrochronological study showed that the construction had proceeded in two stages during 18 years, and after a break of 22 years, the work had been finished 40–42 years after the work had begun.

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