Gene Fornby is a reconstructed
Iron Age settlement just outside
Örnsköldsvik, in
Västernorrland County,
Sweden
Sweden, formally the Kingdom of Sweden,The United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names states that the country's formal name is the Kingdom of SwedenUNGEGN World Geographical Names, Sweden./ref> is a Nordic country located on ...
.
The earliest traces of human activity found in the area date back to the
Nordic Bronze Age, but the settlement itself dated back to the
Roman Iron Age, from around the years 400-600 AD. The settlement was located just by the waterline of that time, but due to the
post-glacial rebound in the area, the waterline is now about 500 meters away from the settlement.
Historically it was known that there were burial mounds on top of Genesmon, but it was not until the 1960s that they were investigated for the first time by the archaeologist
Evert Baudou. Graves believed to be those of chieftains from the years 100-600 AD have been found. Gene Fornby was laid bare during archaeological
excavations conducted by the
University of Umeå from 1977 and 1988. The excavation revealed various buildings including a
forge
A forge is a type of hearth used for heating metals, or the workplace (smithy) where such a hearth is located. The forge is used by the smith to heat a piece of metal to a temperature at which it becomes easier to shape by forging, or to th ...
, believed to have been one of the largest forge in prehistoric
Scandinavia. Traces of iron production and processing were uncovered as well as bronze casting and a textile works.
''Gene Fornby'' (Archeo Interface)
In 1991, work began on reconstructing the farm on Genesmon. A principal feature is the reconstructed longhouse. The facility opened in 1991 and became a popular tourist attraction during the summer months. All the houses are open to the public. The facility is operated by the Örnsköldsvik Museum & Art Gallery.
References
Other sources
*Baudou, Evert (1992) ''Norrlands forntid : ett historiskt perspektiv'' (Höganäs: CEWE-forlaget)
*Edblom, Lena (2004) ''Långhus i Gene'' (Institutionen för Arkeologi och Samiska Studier, Umeå universitet)
*Lindqvist Anna-Karin and Ramqvist, Per H. (1993) ''Gene – en stormansgård från äldre järnålder i mellannorrland'' (Umeå universitet)
*Ramqvist, Per H. (1983) ''On the origin, function and development of sedentary Iron Age settlement in Northern Sweden'' (Umeå universitet)
* Thunberg, Carl L. (2013) "Gene fornby: The Ancient Village of Gene", ''EXARC Journal Digest 2013'' (Eindhoven: EXARC Journal) ISSN 2212-523X
External links
Gene Fornby Official website
Carl L. Thunberg, ''EXARC Journal 2013/1 ''(Online issue), "Gene fornby: The Ancient Village of Gene"
Genesmon the Iron AgeSite MapUmeå universitet - Archaeology and Environment
Archaeological sites in Sweden
Former populated places in Sweden
Open-air museums in Sweden
Museums in Västernorrland County
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