A lost iron realm?Iron production in southern Hälsingland during the late iron age This bachelor thesis explores the prehistoric iron production in the Swedish province of Hälsingland, with a special focus on the parishes surrounding the Marmen and Bergviken lakes. A vast amount of remains from bloomery iron production was discovered during the 1980’s in the area surrounding the lakes, consisting of iron making sites and charcoal pits. This thesis focuses on the spatial distribution of those remains, which are studied and analysed mainly through GIS. Their spatial relation to natural-geographical phenomenon and indicators of settlement is analysed and discussed, with comparisons to other Swedish provinces. In addition, 14C-datings are calibrated and discussed on a critical basis. The occurrence of spade-shaped currency bars in Hälsingland is discussed based on their physical appearance and context of finding. Finally the author suggests how to work with the known material in order to gain new scientific knowledge.

This essay is about two areas called Hackås and Myrviken, situated in the middle of Sweden around the lake Storsjön. In Hackås we can see traces after an early agrarian settlement, and in Myrviken we find Jämtlands largest concentration of ironmaking sites from around 400 AD. There are no clear evidence of the agrarian settlement in Myrviken, and only two ironmaking sites in Hackås. These two economies functioned at the same time, but were clearly separated. My purpose is to discuss if it was the farmers of Hackås who made iron in Myrviken, or if it was somebody else.