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Vestiges of the past
Vesterålen has North Norway's largest collection of grave mounds and ancient artifacts. Of the some two thousand graves registered in the area, over 600 of these are located in Bø.
Nearly 200 of the gravesites are found on Svinøy. Other significant concentrations of graves are located at Vinje, Føre, Fjærvoll and Hovden. The first people settled in Bø already during the Stone Age 3000 - 4000 years ago. Most of the graves, however, date from the Iron Age and the period of migration, during the period between 200 A.D. and 1000 A.D.
Most of the archeological discoveries have been stumbled upon while working farmland. Some organized digs have been completed. The Viking graves at Føre total 12 and were carefully opened and systematically researched. According to experts, the remains of the dead and the objects buried with them were remarkably well preserved, and they remain some of our most unique artifacts.
The area is open to the public. In addition, there is a separate brochure about the
Grave sites at Føre.
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