The existence of the prehistoric cult buildings is a highly controversial subject in archeology. Perhaps the most interesting thing about the discussion is that it is not certain that these buildings existed. Most of the recent excavations have contributed to an increased interest in central places, cult centers and the discovered material associated with mansion-like settlements. Various exclusive discoveries link relevant interpretations and terms to kings and aristocracy. In some cultural contexts the larger magnate complexes during the Iron Age have had a significant importance. The buildings that are considered to have received a great ritual significance are special houses that have been interpreted as cult houses, but also the hall buildings had a significant role in the context of cult. In the interpretation of the Iron Age cult house, there are a number of aspects that should be taken into consideration, and not merely the material findings at the cult houses. The surrounding nature of the buildings is important, since the cult houses were built on settlements, where powerful chiefs of importance to the community lived and worked. Unlike the bronze ages cult houses, the iron age is more easily interpreted, due to several aspects. On the one hand, iron age cult houses are considerably more resourceful, on the other hand, pre-Christian scriptures have contributed to various aspects of the interpretation of the buildings. These interpretations can be questioned as they are not scientific.

Uppåkra is a centralplace in Scania, southern Sweden, where religion and cult have been of great importance. The cult has been important in the Iron Age society for rulers but also for blacksmiths and the general population. Just like Borg, Gudme and Järrestad, Uppåkra has probably emerged with the development of agriculture. When agriculture developed trade grew and eventually power. Hence could centralplaces finally form. Centralplaces have probably also affected its hinterland positive, as they could take part of the centralplaces financial position.

The presence of roman coins outside of the Roman Empire during the Iron Age is a curiousthing. One would assume they represent a giant trade confederation of sorts, and one would notbe completely wrong in assuming so. The trade aspect of the Roman Empire to the north is stillsomething unknown. But this essays focus lies instead with how the coins were used in specificplaces in Scandinavia. This essay focuses on two central places, Gudme in Denmark, andUppåkra in Sweden, while also looking at stray coins in the northern part of Sweden todetermine if there is a correlation between a central place and stray finds out in the wilderness. The analysis of this essay showed a similar yet different use of the roman coins at the twocentral places. In Gudme the norm was to use the coins, as they were, in the metal workshops,or use them as clippings for using a smaller amount of metal in the rework of new items. InUppåkra the norm was instead to melt all coins down to metal bars for an easier storage and useof specific wights and metal in making new items. The correlation between the stray coins anda central place is that hunters or tradesmen travelled through the country and dropped coins.The analysis showed that the travellers where hunting and trading fur that were most likely soldin a central place like Uppåkra and then brought back to settlement in the north / Närvaron av romerska mynt utanför romarriket under järnåldern är en underlig sak. Antagandetsom har gjorts är att de representerade ett handels förbund av ett slag, och en har inte helt fel iatt anta så. Handelsaspekten av romarriket i norr är fortfarande okänt. Fokuset för denna uppsatsligger i stället hur de romerska mynten användes vid specifika platser i Skandinavien.Uppsatsen fokuserar på två centralplatser, Gudme i Danmark och Uppåkra i Sverige, detkommer även kolls på ströfynd i norra delen av Sverige för att ta reda på om en korrelationmellan centralplats och ströfynden i utmarken. Analysen av Uppsatsen visade på en liknande användning av mynten men ändå en olikhetvid de två centralplatserna. I Gudme var normen att använda mynten som de var imetallverkstäderna, eller använda dem som klippningar för att använda en mindre mängd metalli tillverkningen av nya föremål. I Uppåkra smältes mynten i stället ner till metalltackor förenklare förvaring samt att kunna använda en specifik metall eller mängd för att tillverka nyaföremål. Korrelationen mellan utmarksfynden och en centralplats var att jägare ellerhandelsmän reste genom landet och tappade mynt. Analysen visade att de jagade efter päls föratt sälja på centralplatser och fick romerska mynt som betalning och tog mynten till derasbosättningar i norra Sverige.

In relation to last year’s introduction of Digital Archaeological Process this study is supposed to investigate the opportunities of using quantitative methods on the archaeological material. The subject of the investigation is to problematize and process the concept of ”central places”. The investigation is based on a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods executed on seven different grave- and settlement areas during the Iron Age in Skåne. The archeological material is gathered through archaeological reports and later processed in tables. The concept of central places is often based on luxury finds and places with much archaeological material. Quantitative methods on archaeological material are a possibility by many reasons. For example by getting an overview of each grave- and settlement area which is an opportunity for more interpretations. DAP is an opportunity to restore the archaeological material during excavations for future research. The introduction of DAP is a step in the right direction for future archaeology.