The Iron Age in Sweden (c. 500 BCE–1100 CE) is a crucial period that sets the stage for the development of later Swedish society. It is divided into two main periods: the Pre-Roman Iron Age and the Roman Iron Age.
Pre-Roman Iron Age (500 BCE–1 BCE)
In the early Iron Age, Sweden saw significant cultural and environmental changes. The archaeological record from this period shows an abundance of rural settlements and agricultural activity, but very few artifacts, largely due to austere burial customs. Many people were not buried formally, and those who were received minimal grave goods, indicating little social stratification at the time. During this period, bronze imports dwindled, and local iron production began to take off. The worsening climate forced innovations in agriculture, particularly the use of manure for soil improvement, and led to a shift toward seasonal field systems, such as clearance cairns and sunken fields.
Roman Iron Age (1–400 CE)
As the Roman Empire expanded its influence into northern Europe, Sweden experienced a shift in material culture, reflecting increased contact with the Romans. During this period, the Roman influence can be seen through imported bronze goods, such as drinking gear, which appeared in graves. The rise in weapon burials around this time, after a long absence, suggests a growing social hierarchy, similar to that seen in the Bronze Age.
The Roman period also saw the establishment of permanent agricultural land divisions with stone walls separating grazing land from farmland. By the second century CE, hillforts began to appear, likely used as refuges during periods of conflict. Additionally, runic inscriptions began to surface, marking the earliest form of Proto-Norse, the language from which modern Swedish would eventually develop.
Sweden also enters proto-history with Tacitus's *Germania* (98 CE), which mentions tribes that correspond to the Swedes and Sami, providing one of the earliest written accounts of the region, though its accuracy is debated.