This chart from 1814 shows
the whereabouts of some of the plentiful iron age, bronze age and Viking
period burial mounds which were ploughed under in the 1850s.
Today, the only ones left are "Gallehög," beside the golf
course and "Hellehög,"
just behind Turistgården.
The four extensive
viking defence works, which Tycho Brahe mentioned on his arrival on the
island, are also shown on the map: Norreborg (the North Fort), Sönderborg
(the South Fort), Karlshöga Castle and Hammars Castle where the foul
hag Grimhilde ruled...
None of these ancient fortresses has been archeologically examined. (Otherwise,
Hven
is rich in ancient registered artifacts.
Some years ago, on one of the national
charts, I counted not less than 70 registered
ancient sites of interest.
The first time in history that the island is mentioned is in Snorre Sturlasson's saga "Heimskringla"
which he finished in about 1235.
According to some historians the island was
a sacred place for the old beliefs during the bronze-age and viking-age. Here people gathered and held their their fiests and ceremonies and the party is still on,
at least during summertime...
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In Valdemar's Jordebog (a cadastral survey showing property boundaries) from the 1230s, the island is called Hvaetaen, which supposedly means something like the "small people's island." |