Götaland theory

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The Götaland theory (or "Westrogothian School", Swedish Västgötaskolan) is a view which challenges established history and archaeology, and claims that the foundation of Sweden occurred not (as traditionally assumed) in Eastern Sweden, but in the province of Westrogothia (Västergötland). The adherents of this idea use wide-ranging methods, from controversial ones, such as dowsing and asking mediums to contact the dead, to more conventional methods such as etymology, but also claim that the established academic material consists of lies and forgeries. Although well known in Sweden and fervently preached by its adherents, it has never been accepted by scholars.^[1]

History

The Götaland theory originated in the early 20th century with claims that the ancient city

Especially, the story of Odin and the Aesir's emigration according to the Ynglinga saga is generally considered as false by the official views and scholars. Other parts of the extensive work of Snorri Sturluson (and other saga writers) may however be considered valid references for finding elements of the ancient history of Scandinavian people and their religious customs and beliefs.

Birka speculations

The town

According to the Västgöta theory, Birka as a name meant "merchant town," and could refer to any such town in ancient Sweden.^[citation needed]

Ubsola speculations

Upsalir, or Ubsola, was the main cult center of

There are however no archeological findings that support the view of Västergötland being the original site of Ubsola, and therefore the views of the Västgöta theory have little or no actual credibility.^[citation needed]

The theory's Nazi origin

The Götaland theory was the only notable result of the Nazi infiltration of Swedish archaeology during 1933–1945.^[3] Carl-Otto Fast, founder of the Westrogothian School ("Västgötaskolan"), was a known Nazi^[4] who some claim collaborated with SS Ahnenerbe, Richard Walther Darré and eugenicists from Hadamar in Germany. Archaeologist Magnus Alkarp, who has studied classified and semi-classified documents from the post-war era, has showed that the Westrogothian School was, among some regional, right-wing separatists movements in Scandinavia, an important part of the Operation Gladio.^{[citation needed]}

Testing the theory

Amateurs have unsuccessfully tried to prove what they consider important aspects of the Götaland theory several times. The barrow at Skalunda was claimed to be the burial site of the hero Beowulf known from the Beowulf epic; after applying the dowsing technique with a pendulum, they claimed that the barrow was indeed the burial site of this Geatish hero.^[5] Later, professional archaeologists drilled into the barrow to extract a sample for C14 dating.^[5] The barrow was from around 700 C.E., about 150 years too late for being a candidate for Beowulf's burial site.^[5]

The locality

• Lands of Sweden
• History of Sweden
• Gothicismus
• Name of the Goths
• Consolidation of Sweden

Notes

References

• Alkarp, Magnus (2007). Men däri är också mycken galenskap : Adam av Bremen, arkeologin och Gamla Uppsala = Adamus Bremensis, archaeology and Old Uppsala. In: Kult, guld och makt : ett tvärvetenskapligt symposium i Götene.
• Gahrn, Lars (1988). Sveariket i källor och historieskrivning. Gothenburg University, doctoral thesis with English summary.
• Larsson, M. G. (2002). Götarnas riken. Upptäcksfärder till Sveriges enande. Atlantis, Stockholm.
  ISBN 91-7486-641-9
  .
• Strömberg, J.B.L.D. (1998). Svearikets vagga och västgötaskolan. Stockholm. Web edition with an English summary