One of Sweden's richest bird lakes. Commonly known for the amount of cranes that stop at the lake before flying on towards and from their breeding grounds. On pillars in the lake you find the visitor center Hornborgasjön, an information center including an exhibition about the lake's history and bird life. Hornborgasjön is an over 4000 hectare large nature reserve. The reserve includes mainly the lake and its shoreline, but also some of the old farmland east of the lake.
At Rössberga, on the road between Torbjörntorp and Varnhem, lies a beautiful passage tomb from the agricultural Stone Age.
About 5,200 years ago (i.e. 3,200 BC) a group of Stone Age people constructed their family grave right here. Why here in particular? What were their thoughts? What happened?
The passage tombs were built by farmers who worked the land but also kept pigs, cattle, sheep and goats. The Falbygden region seems to have developed into a high culture, or a centre for this arable farming culture. There are the remains of 270-290 passage tombs – three quarters of the total number in Sweden – all constructed during the period 3,500 – 3,100 BC. We can also be sure that a number have disappeared over the centuries due to farming. How many were here originally?
Rössberga passage tomb was investigated by archaeologists (including Carl Cullberg) in the 1960s. In connection with the investigation, the bone remains of 156 individuals were found. The grave was used for generations, for deceased people of all ages. The abundant bone finds are characteristic for Falbygden’s passage tombs. The lime-rich bedrock preserved the bones. Perhaps it was this phenomenon in particular that contributed to the strong growth of the passage tomb culture right here. The ancestors “survived” in the kingdom of death, inside the burial chamber. The well preserved bone material is today highly important to research.
Here at Rössberga, pay particular attention to the facade rocks, the small vertical flat rocks that were erected at the entrance to the passage. On the site in front of them, repeated rites have been carried out, and items including flint, as well as food and drink in beautiful ceramic vessels have been sacrificed. Around the grave there is a rim of small round stones.