Hagbard's gallow

Hagbard's gallow is a prehistoric site featuring four large upright stones arranged in two pairs that stand out in the flat landscape. The stones bear Bronze Age carvings that reveal details about the artistic techniques and tools of their time.

The site was created during the Bronze Age, between 1700 and 500 BCE, serving as a place of ritual importance for early Scandinavians. Researchers have uncovered carvings from the 18th century onward, showing that the monument drew attention across thousands of years.

The name comes from the legend of Hagbard and Signy, a tragic love story from early Scandinavian tradition. This old tale shapes how visitors experience and interpret the standing stones today.

The site is located in the Halland region and forms part of the Ekomuseum nedre Ätradalen open-air museum, which provides pathways and information boards. Visitors should wear sturdy footwear and expect changing weather conditions, as the location sits in an open landscape area.

The carvings on the stones display patterns and symbols that researchers still work to interpret today, revealing new insights into early Scandinavian artistic practices. Some engravings are so finely executed that they show how precise the tools and techniques were even then.