Sandby borg

The ancient ringfort is located only 40 m from the shores of the Baltic Sea and has an oval shape with internal dimensions of 92 x 66 m. The southeastern foot of the wall is only 1 m above the sea level. The inner part of the castle is 3 m above sea level. The castle has two gates, a sea gate and a north gate. The former buildings inside the castle start radially from the wall. Sandby borg dates to the time of migration (400-550 AD). Towards the land side, the castle has a peculiar fortification in the form of large outer gray stone blocks, sparsely laid out in semicircular rows. 

In 2010-2011, magnificent jewelery was found in the castle during archaeological investigations, including the relief buckles. It could be stated that the five jewelery sets were placed in several houses under stones, apparently in a hiding place. The jewelry was so magnificent that it should have been worn by rich women of high status. During surveys in the summer of 2013, additional objects were found, including a millefiori pearl, the size of a golf ball. During these investigations, a number of skeletons have also been found, which lay a bit here and there. They have not been burned, which should have been the case at a funeral. Instead, it is believed that the population of the castle was killed in a brutal attack around the year 480. After that, the castle has been left to its fate and is no longer used. 

During excavations in 2014, a Roman gold coin, a so-called solidus, was found. The coin, which was used in the Roman administration, probably came to Öland by being paid as a salary to Öland troops who served in the Roman army and then returned to their homeland. The coin has been minted during the same time as the castle was inhabited, just before the massacre.

After the 2015 excavations, a total of eight dead have been found in one house. No one has been buried or burned. Objects remain as they fell. The ringfort appears to have been abandoned after the massacre. One question is why no women are found among the dead, despite the fact that many objects indicating a female presence have been found.

Here you can see Sandbyborg in an aerial photo from Lantmäteriet's web map (In mobile phone, tap on map in the menu)