Varnhem, Sweden, ca 1030
The small child is carefully placed in the stone coffin. Kata shivers, and not only because of the cold spring wind. Almost everyone here knows what it feels like to bury a child.
She puts her arm comforting around the grieving mother. Then she raises her eyes and meets the father’s gaze. He has been beside himself since the death of his son. Now he looks angry.
When the priest begins the sermon, the father can no longer hold his tongue. Angry words spill out, accusing God of taking his son, accusing Kata and her husband, Kättil, of not allowing him to sacrifice to the old Gods.
Kata is certain of her faith, yet aware that while many women in the village have embraced Christianity, some men still cling to the old ways, possibly even making sacrifices in secret. It can not be allowed.
As the assembly disperses outside the church on the hill, Kata touches the newly laid stones of the church that she and Kättil have financed. Here, in Varnhem, there will be no more blot, no more blood for Oden, Tor or Freyja. Only prayers to the true God, to Christ and his mother. Mary.
This is what might have occured in Varnhem, Sweden, in the 11th century. Excavations have shown that a Christian congregation had thrived there since the mid 9th century, 100 years earlier that it was previously believed that Christianity had taken hold in Sweden.
There had long been a wooden church there, but in the early/mid 11th century, a new stone church was built. And just outside of the walls, on either side of the building, two elaborate graves were found.
One of them bore the inscription:
Kättil made this stone after Kata his wife Torgil’s sister
And in that grave lay the remains of a woman – presumably Kata herself.
She was 160 cm tall, and there was no signs of wear and tear on her skeleton – no signs of hard work. Her teeth had no cavaties, infections or noticable wear. This shows that Kata lived a privileged life. Despite this, she only lived to be 30-35 years old.
She, her husband and brother belonged to the societal elite, had important connections and influence. The stone church is contemporary with Kata, which draws the conclusion that she and her family paid for it. A large farm was located nearby, which was probably managed by Kata.
A reconstruction of Kata’s face has been made by model maker Oscar Nilsson, bringing history to life.
Kata was not the only Viking Age woman who clearly favoured the new religion.
In recent decades, archaeologists and historians have begun to take an interest in the role of women in the Christianization process, which has proven to be significant. One indication of this is that the majority of the early Christian graves in Sweden belong to women.
And that is not the only sign that women were particularly interested in Christianity; they have also left traces, quite literally, carved in stone.
We will explore this in next post.
Sources:
Axelsson, Tony & Vretemark, Maria. (2013). Varnhem innan munkarna kom. Västergötlands museum.
https://vastergotlandsmuseum.se/besok-oss/kata-gard-varnhem/kata-rekonstruktion