The area around Åkersvika was among the most powerful in Norway. Some of the finest artefacts from the Merovingian Period were found here. On this side of Åkersvika were farms at Tommelstad, Børstad and Disen.

Eidsiva Thing

The chieftain’s estate, Åker, home of the Eidsiva Thing, was located by Åkersvika. In the last part of the Iron Age this was the thing site for much of what is today’s Innlandet Region.

The chieftain at Åker must have been particularly powerful.  

Norse cult sites

In addition, there were unusually many Norse cult sites around Åker.

Within a radius of 1,5 km there are as many as 5 farms that can have cultish origins.

Reduced power

At the transition from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages, the political and religious situation in Norway had changed, and around the year 1020 the Eidsiva Thing was moved to Eidsvoll.

Perhaps this was a strategic move to reduce Åker’s power in Eastern Norway.

Even though the old power structures changed and there was a political-religious shift, many people continued to make sacrifices to the old gods for many years. Politically, however, Åker – and thus many of the farms around Åkersvika – lost a lot of their power.