Kultkontinuitet i Gästrikland

Sammanfattning: Researchers have for many years discussed whether cult continuity is an existing phenomenon. Older research says that the first churches built during the Christianization directly took over the place of a pre-Christian cult. Recent research says that the matter of cult continuity is more complex, and that the places of churches can be a part of a pre-Christian religious area, but power and economy are also significant factors. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether there is any cult continuity in nine sites in Gästrikland, Sweden. The churches built during the Christianization were placed in villages with a long continuity of settlement since Viking age. Scientists believe that the place names near the churches indicate that they have been sites of pre-Christian significance. This study will examine this more closely through the analysis of archaeological materials in relation to previous research, hoping to shed new light on the matter.