Riksantikvarieämbetet

At a settlement from the Early Iron Age in Fyrislund Uppland, a well was found with a rich content including archaeological finds, pollen, intestinal parasites and plant macrofossils. The well is an important context for an expanded understanding of the surrounding environment during the Early Iron Age in the area. In addition, the presence of parasites also provides opportunities to highlight the healthand the effects of infections in humans and animals in densely populated agrarian communities in Iron Age. The excavated well also contained several objects together with pollen from deposited white water lilies that could indicate sacrificial activitiesin some form. In a wider perspective, wells can provide important materials and inputs to activities such as water supply, waste management, and changes in the natural environment and human societies over time.