Introduction

Ale’s Stones (Swedish: Ales stenar) is a megalithic monument located in Scania, the southernmost province of Sweden. This site features an oval-shaped stone ship, with the stones at both ends significantly larger than those in the middle. The ship measures 67 meters long and has 59 large boulders weighing up to 5 tonnes.

Carbon-14 dating of organic materials found at the site has yielded seven results. One of these results suggests that the material is approximately 5,500 years old, while the other six indicate a date around 1,400 years ago. The latter date is considered the most likely timeframe for the creation of Ale’s Stones, placing its construction towards the end of the Nordic Iron Age.

Function

The function and purpose of Ale’s stones are widely debated, and many different theories have been proposed. They are generally regarded as grave monuments or cult centers, but another theory suggests they may serve as a sun calendar.

One theory, presented by Howard Crowhurst from the Association for the Knowledge and Study of Megaliths (ACEM) in France, posits that the monument is linked to the summer solstice and lunar standstill.

Archaeological findings

In 1989, archaeologists found a decorated clay pot with burned human bones during excavations. The bones likely came from a pyre and were placed in the pot later. The pot’s contents ranged from 330 to 650 AD, and they also discovered birch charcoal remains from the same period under an undisturbed boulder.

According to the Swedish National Heritage Board, carbon-14 dating of organic material from the site indicates that six samples date back to around 600 AD, while one sample dates to approximately 3500 BC. The older sample was taken from soot-covered stones, which are believed to be remnants of an ancient hearth found near the ship setting. Based on these findings, the Swedish National Heritage Board has suggested a creation date for Ale’s Stones of 1,400 years before the present, corresponding to 550 AD.