The Nordic Asa-Community is deeply upset and outraged by the desecration that has now struck Anundshög – one of Sweden’s most significant ancient heritage sites. That someone has deliberately dug over 50 pits into the ship settings at this ancient site is nothing less than a frontal assault on our shared cultural heritage, our history, and our Old Norse faith.
This is not a childish prank. It is a deliberate, ruthless, and criminal act against our roots. It is an insult to our ancestors, our heritage, and to all who reverently preserve and pass on our ancient traditions and faith.
Anundshög is not just a burial ground – it is a sacred landscape, a historical monument, and a living reminder of the power center that once flourished in our land. It features five large ship settings – two of which have now been plundered. One of the pits has been dug into what is likely a cremation layer – that is, the place where a chieftain or nobleman was buried by fire – one of our most sacred burial rites. To desecrate such a site is an unparalleled disgrace.
We echo the words of Västerås Museum Director Nina Eklöf: “This is an irreplaceable loss for us all.” By disturbing and ripping apart the context of ancient monuments, not only are objects destroyed, but also the stories they hold. Every layer in the earth contains knowledge of our past – of life, belief, society, and death. To tear up these layers for personal gain is to sever the threads that connect us to our ancestors.
We in the Nordic Asa-Community see this as a direct attack not only on our history and heritage – but on our faith. The Asatru lives on to this day. For us, these places are not just museum relics, but sacred ground. It is here our ancestors rest, here our gods have been invoked, here blóts have been held for over a thousand years. What has occurred at Anundshög is nothing less than a modern form of grave desecration.
We welcome the actions of the police and the County Administrative Board, and we urge the authorities to take this with the utmost seriousness. Crimes against ancient monuments must not be trivialized. It is an attack on our people’s entire history, identity, and örlög (fate). Looting our sacred sites must have tangible consequences – both legally and morally.
We urge all members, all believers, and all with respect for Sweden’s history to be vigilant. If you see suspicious activity at an ancient site – report it. Never silently tolerate the destruction of our shared heritage.
We thank the Swedish Minister of Culture Parisa Liljestrand for her clear reaction on social media, stating that the event makes her “sacredly furious.” “This is not just theft: this is outright indecent vandalism of our shared cultural heritage.”
Anundshög deserves respect. Our ancestors deserve reverence. Our faith deserves protection.
/ The Board of the Nordic Asa-Community
