Sigtuna : Staden, kyrkorna och den kyrkliga organisationen

Sammanfattning: This dissertation focuses especially on the late Viking period and the early Middle Ages. Special emphasis is laid on the town of Sigtuna and the three provinces of Tiundaland, Attundaland and Fjädrundaland (the territory now known as Uppland). Excavations in Sigtuna, including my own, were the beginning of the study. The dissertation is divided into two parts. Part I deals with urbanisation and with Sigtuna town. A hypothesis as to why Sigtuna was founded is presented. The aspects discussed include the social structure, property rights and Olof Eriksson Skötkonung´s coinage. The results of two major archaeological investigations in the town are summarised.Part II deals with the Church´s mission and the ecclesiastical organisation. The mission to Sweden is surveyed. Earlier research on the Sigtuna churches is summarised and new hypotheses are presented. The reason why the episcopal see was moved from Sigtuna to Gamla Uppsala in the 1130s is discussed. The growth of the ecclesiastical organisation and the formation of the rural parishes are also discussed. The study is extended until the 1270s, when the archi-episcopal see was moved from Gamla Uppsala to Östra Aros (Uppsala).