When the cemetery at Vendel's church was to be expanded in 1881, fourteen boat graves were found from about 550-800 AD. The finds that were made were so well preserved and unique that they were given the name of this time period: The Vendel Period.
Vendel Period
At this time, the graves were the richest found in Sweden. A boat grave means that the dead has been buried in a submarine boat and not burned, which was the usual practice of this time. In the boat, objects belonging to the dead were added to the next life. Examples of objects that have been found in Vendel are swords, shields, a helmet, spears and arrows.
Vendels church
Vendel's 700-year-old brick church is richly decorated with medieval murals. The original 15th-century paintings by John Iwan emphasize the glory of God. In the 18th century, the church was modernized and the paintings were overwhelmed, which was typical of this period. Some of them were restored during the 1930s.
Vendelkråka Time-museum
Next to the church is the Vendeltidsmusetet with an exhibition and information about Vendelbygden. Here are findings from the boat excavators.
Ottar Mound.
A few kilometers from the church is the Ottarshögen. It is according to folktro kung Ottar Vendelkråka's tomb, King Ottar Vendelkråka lived possibly during the first half of the 500s. The Ottarshögen is six meters high and 37 meters in diameter, thus very large and unique in its kind.
Vendeldagen
On June 6 every year, the Vendel day is held, as you can experience the Viking Age and the whole village holds open house