Varnhem - in the midst of the flat-topped mountain landscape
Billingen, on whose slope Varnhem is situated, is one of Västergötland's fifteen flat-topped mountains that have been designated as Sweden's first UNESCO Global Geopark. The flat-topped mountains are composed of different layers of rock, like the layers of a cake. The mountains are like an old book whose pages are still preserved today. The different properties of the rocks have given the landscape a beautiful and varied nature as different plants thrive on different bedrock. Geology has greatly influenced the fact that it is precisely in Varnhem that this historically important site is established - it was indeed the geology that provided the favourable conditions for human settlement here.
The ice has shaped the landscape we have today. Glacial deposits are traces from the Ice Age, simply put. These tracks can look and be constructed in different ways, and you have surely heard of some of them: eskers, kettle holes, terminal moraines, and sand dunes.
Good conditions for a settlement
It was the geology that provided the favourable conditions for human settlement here at Varnhem. For example, the early Viking farm that we now call Kata Farm, after the Viking woman who lived here.
Without the fertile, lime-rich soil that provided abundant harvests, such a large farm could not have developed in this location. Limestone from Billingen made it possible to build the farm church. The limestone was also used for Kata's coffin, something that has resulted in the skeleton being unusually well-preserved.
The availability of groundwater was put to use early on.
The flat-topped mountains provide good access to groundwater and the mountain slopes are rich in springs. This has had a significant impact on the drinking water supply ever since the first Stone Age culture and into modern times. Fresh spring water was as important for a functioning society as the availability of food.
This was also something the monks in Varnhem took advantage of, and they built an advanced system to access running water inside the abbey. Ever since the time of the monks, we have also had several mills around Varnhem that have utilised the running water to grind flour.
GEOLOGY fACTS
Did you know that ... in the nature reserve Ökull-Borregården here near Varnhem, there is a large, perfectly round kettle hole. Kettle holes formed when remnant ice blocks from the ice sheet buried in sediment, and then melted, leaving behind depressions.
Did you know that... A global geopark is an area with geology of international significance designated by the UN agency Unesco.
Did you know that... there is a saying to remember the different types of rocks on the mountains? "USA KLockan Tre" stands for Urberg, Alunskiffer, Kalksten, Lerskiffer, Trapp (basement rock, alum shale, limestone, clay shale, diabase)
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