Lurö – öar i Vänerns mitt

Abstract

On the small island of Lurö in Lake Vänern, there are the ruins of a medieval stone church. Archaeological excavations have revealed that the church probably was built during the first part of the eleventh century AD. The study has therefore focused on why such a large church was built at such an early stage on this small island. The placement of the church deviates from the usual location of other early stone churches ; these earliest churches were normally built on large estates owned by people of the upper strata ofsociety. Recent excavations of settlement remains near the church ruin have opened up for a new discussion about the person or persons who decided to build the church on Lurö. This has also led to a discussion about the use of the church.