Augmented History: Gamla Uppsala 1.0

Experience what ancient Old Uppsala looked like firsthand.

Old Uppsala is one of Scandinavia’s most renowned archaeological sites and former royal seats, celebrated for its numerous large burial mounds and its legendary kings, who traced their lineage back to the god Frej. Today, visitors are often struck by the impressive burial mounds, yet these only represent a fraction of the many graves and settlements that once existed in this area.

The environment offers a glimpse into the landscape as it was during the period when the site’s reputation grew, serving as a backdrop for many Viking and medieval stories that have been preserved through history.

On foot, you can explore the royal estate area approximately 100 years before the onset of the Viking Age, during a time when all known major monuments had already been constructed but had not yet been affected by later medieval developments such as cathedral construction. Using the app, visitors can digitally experience features like the enormous hall—an elevated hall that likely lent its name to both Old Uppsala and, indirectly, modern Uppsala. Surrounding the hall were extensive workshops, numerous economic buildings, and other structures. Encounter figures from Vendel-era history brought to life and explore both the present-day archaeological site and its digital reconstruction simultaneously.

Within the vicinity of the royal estate, it is also possible to search for archaeological artifacts, excavate them, and store them in a virtual bag. Each artifact is accompanied by a description explaining its significance. How many finds can you uncover?

"Augmented History – Gamla Uppsala" has been developed by archaeologists from Uppsala University in collaboration with game designers and IT specialists.

• Note: The app functions exclusively on-site within the Old Uppsala archaeological site; physical movement through the area is required to use it effectively.
• As the app relies on location services, it performs best on devices equipped with built-in GPS receivers and SIM cards. Its usability without GPS support cannot be guaranteed, and accuracy may vary depending on the device.
• The environments are based on current research and archaeological excavations; however, only small parts of the site have been thoroughly investigated. Much of the content involves interpretation and reconstruction.
• The detailed content is located on grassy areas north of today’s churchyard. Visitors are encouraged to explore; however, care should be taken to respect private properties and sensitive areas when using the app. Do not use it inside the church building; only walk along designated gravel paths within the cemetery. The cemetery itself does not contain detailed content applicable to this digital experience.