Riksgropen, Archaeological excavation in Gamla stan, Stockholm, Sweden.
Riksgropen is an archaeological excavation on Helgeandsholmen island in central Stockholm, where layers of the city's past have been uncovered over decades. The site contains remains of houses, a cemetery, and workshops from different periods stacked one above the other, telling the story of centuries of occupation.
The excavation began in the 1970s and 1980s when archaeologists uncovered 13th-century ruins and early modern fortifications while preparing the site for a parking garage. These discoveries changed the plans for the land and led to the creation of a medieval museum instead.
The site shows how people lived, worked, and buried their dead across many centuries in this same location. You can see how the city built itself up layer by layer as different generations used the same ground.
The excavation site is located on Helgeandsholmen island, easily reached on foot from the rest of Gamla Stan and centrally positioned in Stockholm. The area is well connected to other historical sites, making it easy to include in a walking tour of the old town.
Among the finds was a complete 17th-century pharmacy with bottles and containers showing how medicines were made and stored back then. Combined with coins, pipes, and pottery from many different periods, it created a detailed picture of everyday life from centuries past.
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