Swedish Tingplats

During Viking and medieval times in Sweden, criminal and civil cases were decided at a court session called a "ting". The ting sessions were held outdoors at a designated location called the tingplats. Prior to the arrival of Christianity, it is believed that the tingplats was often a place where sacrifices were offered. After Christianity arrived many tingplats were associated to the location of a church. Later (before the practice of building a tinghus) the ting session was held in a house where the church wardens and parishioners could meet (the sockenstuga) or in a government inn (gästgivarigård.)