Pilane, Iron Age grave field in Klövedal, Sweden
Pilane is an ancient grave field on Tjörn island containing around 90 monuments including stone circles and burial mounds spread across eight hectares. The site functions as a sculpture park exhibition during warmer months, where contemporary art installations sit alongside the archaeological remains.
Evidence of human settlement dates back around 4,500 years, with pottery remains from the early farming period found near the parking area. The stone circles were built later during the Iron Age between 500 BC and 1000 AD as gathering places.
The stone circles served as gathering places where Iron Age communities made legal and social decisions together. Walking among them today, you can sense how these spaces brought people together for important matters.
The site is accessible during warmer months from May through September when art installations enhance the experience, though the monuments remain visible year-round. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for uneven ground, as the landscape is open terrain with varied surfaces and natural pathways.
Sheep graze freely among both the ancient monuments and contemporary sculptures, creating an unusual blend of past and present in the same space. The animals also help maintain the open landscape in a way that has continued for centuries.
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