Left: Kata Gård Exhibition in Varnhem. Right:Runestone with younger Futhark runes saying “Kättil made this stone after Kata, his wife, Torgil’s sister", and a model of Kata and a cat.

Kata Gård – Where Viking Legends Meet Early Christianity

Kata: The Viking Age Woman Who Lived at the Dawn of Christianity in Sweden

Some weeks ago, on a beautiful Saturday in September, I visited one of Sweden’s most remarkable archaeological discoveries, Kata Gård, or Kata Farm, and the exhibition about the people in one of the first Christian societies in Sweden. Varnhem lies in the rolling countryside of Västergötland and is mostly known for its old Abbey church and ruins of the old Abbey, founded by the Cistercian monks in the 1100s. The excavations in Varnhem revealed not only the resting place of a high born woman from the Viking Age, but also a turning point in Scandinavia’s story — when the old Norse gods met the new Christian faith.

Who Was Kata?

Kata lived around the early 1000s, during a time of big changes in Scandinavia. Her grave, placed close to one of the earliest Christian churches in Sweden, tells us she belonged to a wealthy and influential family. It's not far fetched to believe she wasa  part of one of the landowning clans that shaped early Christian Västergötland.

She was buried in a stone coffin, an extraordinary luxury for the time. The positioning of her body follows Christian tradition, showing that she was among the first generation to adopt the new faith in this region.

Her skeleton revealed that she was an Viking Age woman, about 35 years old when she died, and in good health. Her remains don’t tell what she died from — there were no traces of diseases or marks on her bones. She lived a life far removed from the hardships of the lower classes, yet still within a world where labor, faith, and survival intertwined. Through her, we glimpse the growing influence of Christianity — and the enduring presence of Norse heritage.

The Runestone That Spoke Her Name

Perhaps the most poetic link to Kata is the runestone once laid above her grave. Its inscription, written in Younger Futhark runes, reads roughly:

“Kättil made this stone after Kata, his wife, Torgil’s sister”

Through this simple message, we can hear the voice of Kättil, her husband, who honored her in a way few others could afford. That runestone, seen on the image above, connects us directly to the people who once walked this ground. They were not myths or distant figures. They were families, couples, and communities facing change together.

A Family of Power and Faith

Varnhem was not just any village in what later became Sweden during the Viking Age and early Middle Age. Archaeological studies show it was a wealthy estate and an early Christian center as far back as the mid-900s. The family that ruled here had the means to build their own church. The first one made of wood, measuring only 6 x 4 meters (about 20 x 13 ft) was later replaced by a stone church. The foundation of that church can be seen in the Kata Farm exhibition. The elite families also maintained their own burial ground — privileges reserved for them.

Nearby graves tell similar stories. People of strong build were buried in well-made coffins, some decorated with iron fittings. Their diet, revealed through isotope analysis, was rich in animal protein, suggesting access to farmland, livestock, and trade goods. This was a place of influence — a place between the old pagan world and the Christian kingdoms rising across Europe.

When the Cistercian monks arrived in the 1100s and built their grand stone monastery, they chose Varnhem for a reason: it was already a sacred site, in an established place of power and Christianity.

Life and Death in Viking Age Varnhem

More than 3,000 graves have been found in Varnhem in total and they tell a broad story of life in the Viking Age. Half of the found remains belong to children. They were victims of a harsh world where infections, malnutrition, and cold winters claimed many before their first birthday. The average age for adults were Adults 35–40 years, though some reached their fifties or sixties. Many different objects were found in the graves, as well as remains from cats and dogs. They were probably meant to provide protection — and maybe comfort — in the afterlife.

DNA and isotopic studies show that most people here were local to Scandinavia, but a few carried connections from further south in Europe. This proves that Varnhem, as well as many excavation sites in Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia, were parts of a larger network of trade and movement.

Walking in Kata’s Footsteps

Visiting the exhibition Kata Gård today, you can stand above her grave, look upon the runestone that bears her name, and walk among the foundations of one of Sweden’s oldest churches and Abbeys. Here history is alive in the soil beneath your feet. Kata may have lived a thousand years ago, but her story still resonates — a reminder of faith, love, and legacy carved in stone.

If you want to know more about Varnhem, Kata Gård and the old Abbey, you'll find useful links below. A big fan of mystical runes? Check out our unique Viking Pet T-Shirts with rune designs.

Rune Circle Viking Cat T-Shirt

 Purring Since the Viking Age - Runestone Cat T-shirt

CAT in Runes T-Shirt

MEOW in Runes

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