AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Skirsjön is a small, historically significant lake south of Växjö in the forested province of Småland. After decades of drainage that turned much of its basin into marshland, the municipality is now working to restore the water surface. The lake's northern shore is lined by one of the largest Iron Age burial grounds in the Kronoberg region, with around 110 visible grave monuments spread along a low ridge — a hauntingly atmospheric landscape that connects present-day visitors to Viking Age communities in Värend.↗↗↗
This is not a developed tourist site but a quiet cultural landscape best appreciated by those interested in prehistoric heritage, nature restoration, and peaceful rural walks in southern Småland.
An Ancient Shoreline
The ridge along Skirsjön's northern edge carries the burial ground known as Skirgravfältet (L1953:2112), one of the largest Iron Age cemeteries in the Växjö area. Its roughly 110 visible monuments include burial mounds, round and oval stone settings, and standing stones — a composition typical of later Iron Age gravefields in the historical province of Värend. A 1970 excavation of the cemetery's southern portion uncovered glass beads and a bird-shaped brooch, dating the graves to the Vendel Period (6th–7th centuries) and Viking Age (8th–11th centuries).↗
The cemetery was no accident of settlement. It sits directly along one of two major ancient roads running south from Växjö toward Ronneby in Blekinge — a predecessor of today's Highway 27. The proximity of the village names Rinkaby and Tegnaby nearby signals that this was part of a structured, hierarchically organized Iron Age countryside, not a marginal backwater. The lake shore itself served as the boundary between the living and the dead.↗
The Lake That Came Back
Skirsjön covers 34.5 hectares and belongs to the Mörrumsån river basin, draining southward toward the Baltic Sea. At some point in the 20th century, the lake was drained for agriculture, and the basin gradually grew over with moss and grass vegetation. The name Skir itself is ancient, referring to a wetland or woodland pasture set aside for haymaking or grazing — a reminder that this low ground was always shaped by water.↗↗↗
In recent years, Växjö municipality, working with the ecological restoration firm Naturcentrum AB, has begun excavating channels to bring back the water surface. Archaeologists were called in to monitor the excavation because the digging would cut into the protected burial ground zone along the ridge. During those 2020–2021 works, a remarkable find emerged: a wooden beam with drilled holes and axe-cut marks, radiocarbon-dated to the Middle Neolithic period, laid out from the former shore as a footbridge or platform. Other findings included a layer of burned peat indicating a significant historical fire in the wetland, and fragments of 18th-century pottery.↗
The restoration is also connected to an earlier discovery: about 500 metres north of the cemetery, peat-cutters in the 1940s found a wooden footbridge incorporating parts of a Vendel Period wagon — dendrochronologically dated to the late 6th century. These preserved wooden objects in the waterlogged soil paint a picture of a wetland used and reused across millennia, from Neolithic platforms to Viking Age roadways.
Visiting the Area
Skirsjön lies south of Växjö in Kronoberg County, in the heart of Småland's inland forest landscape. The area is accessible by road — the ancient route that the burial ground follows runs parallel to today's Highway 27 toward Ronneby. The landscape is open, gently undulating farmland and grassland with the ridge and its stone monuments providing the most visible connection to the past. There is no dedicated tourist infrastructure, but the combination of the partially restored lake, the ancient road, and the impressive burial field along the ridge makes this a rewarding stop for anyone drawn to Småland's deep cultural landscape.↗
Getting There
Skirsjön is located a short drive south of Växjö city centre, close to the village of Skir in the former Gårdsby parish. The nearest major road is the Highway 27 corridor running south toward Ronneby and Blekinge. The area is rural and spread out, so a car is the most practical way to visit.↗
What makes it special
One of the largest Iron Age burial grounds in Kronoberg County with approximately 110 visible grave monuments↗
The lake is undergoing ecological restoration after being drained in the 20th century↗
A Middle Neolithic wooden footbridge was discovered during restoration works in 2020↗
Graves at the site date from the Vendel Period and Viking Age, roughly the 6th–11th centuries↗
The burial ground sits along an ancient road linking Växjö to Ronneby in Blekinge↗
A little planning goes a long way
- This is a quiet rural cultural landscape, not a managed tourist site. Bring a sense of curiosity about prehistory and Småland's hidden heritage.
- The archaeological monuments along the ridge are on private agricultural land; respect signage and do not disturb the grave fields.
- Combine with a visit to nearby Växjö, the cathedral city and gateway to the Småland forest interior.
About this guide
Compiled with AI assistance from the sources below; this is not a first-hand visit. Place details collected October 5, 2026. Hours, access and ratings can change; confirm with the venue before visiting.
