Gamle hamn, Fårö, Medieval harbor ruins on Fårö, Sweden.
Gamla hamn is a 1.3-hectare nature reserve on a rocky peninsula at the southern end of Lautervik on northwestern Fårö. Its shoreline is made of cobblestones, and several rauks stand on the point and in the water, the most prominent being the rauk gate called "Kaffepannan" (also "Hunden"). Behind the rauk area lies a small pond, the former harbor basin, now 90 by 15 meters and 2 meters deep.
The harbor transformed during the 14th century when major storms created beach ridges that blocked water access from the north. This natural change turned the working port into the inland lake visible today.
The site displays layers of different periods, including burial mounds from the Viking Age and remains of a medieval chapel. Visitors can observe how the graves are arranged in a specific orientation, revealing burial customs and religious practices from centuries past.
The former harbor basin and the chapel ruin about 100 m south of it are reached via forest paths; the reserve covers 1.3 hectares, 0.3 of them water. The shoreline is cobblestone, so sturdy shoes help. The basin is now a narrow 90 m long, 15 m wide and 2 m deep inland lake.
Archaeological finds revealed oyster shells and medieval pottery from distant regions in the sand at the lake bottom. These discoveries show the harbor once had trading connections that reached far beyond the Baltic Sea.
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