Rakni’s Mound in the Iron Age

Rakni’s Mound – a Historical Centre of Power in Romerike
Several large mounds were erected in Scandinavia during the 7th and 8th century.
Rakni’s Mound is the largest of these. In the landscape, the mounds stood out as important religious and social monuments, as well as monuments of political power. Kings and heroes have later often been connected to them; one example is the mythical King Rakni. Most of the large mounds marked the centre of the chiefdom or kingdom. The majority are situated in rich agricultural areas and are surrounded by other graves from the Iron Age, prehistoric paths and large farms.
The majestic mound must have been a symbol of power which had an impact on people’s daily life and their perception of their world. More than ten smaller mounds were erected along the path which passed the mound during the Merovingian Period and in the Viking Age. These were only partly preserved up until the beginning of the 20ieth century. Jewels, weapons and domestic utensils found in the mounds show that wealthy women and men were buried here.

Fertile Soil with a Long Settlement History
The rich agricultural areas around Ullensaker were formed by the deposits from river deltas and floods during the last Ice Age. The landscape is characterised by large areas of well drained flatland of soil and sand. The plains are only interrupted by ravines and pits made by dead ice. Archaeological finds and pollen analyses show traces of agricultural settlements in the area as early as the end of the Stone Age (around 2500 B.C.)

Several farms in the area like Låke, Gislevoll, Lauten, Hovin, Ljøgot, Haug and Sand originate from the late Iron Age or even earlier. Most of the farms had their own burial grounds. Privileges to inherit the farm were connected to mound burials or burials with gifts. Nearly all of the graves have later been destroyed. The largest preserved mounds are Hertelshaugen, Herbergshaugen and Villashaugen. Sandshagan, on the height north of the parking lot of Hovin School, is the only large grave field in the area which has been preserved.

Hovin – Large Scale Farm and Centre of Political Power
The area around Hovin has been a central area of settlement in the period from the birth of Christ and onwards towards the Viking Age. There are traces of cultivated fields, gatherings with excessive eating and barrows. The farm’s name, Hovin, means the meadow by the place of worship. This proves that the farm was a politically and religious centre in pre-Christian times.
The Hovin farm formed the core of a large estate in the Middle Ages. The fact that a church was erected here shows continuity of power through the change of religion. The present church at Hovin dates from 1695.