Bearers of gods - Finnestorp sacrificial site

Between Floby and Larv, a sacrificial site was found in 1902 in a wetland at Finnestorp. Repeated sacrifices have taken place here from the beginning of our era and 500 years later. The finds consist of skeletal parts of horses, sheep and pigs, as well as humans, but above all parts of metal objects from weapons and horse equipment. There are various explanations as to why these items were placed in the bogs, but most commonly it is linked to cult, religion and sacrifice. Before being placed in the water, the objects were destroyed by bending or cutting them. The research project "Victim Site Finnestorp" was carried out in two fieldwork rounds, a first phase in 2000-2004 and a second in 2008-2012. The first round includes almost 300 objects plus bone/horn material. Since 2021, the finds from Finnestorp have been at Västergötland Museum. Work is currently underway to catalog and preserve them. The idea is that the finds will form the backbone of a new basic exhibition. The project enables a preliminary study for the exhibition.