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This paper studies continuity and discontinuity in the eastern Mälaren valley during the transition between the middle and late periods of the Swedish Iron Age. Historically this period has been seen as a period of population decline and turbulence but newer research has questioned this premise. In the areas studied in this paper one showed signs of discontinuity whereas the other seemed to have expanded. The discontinuity could possibly be explained with tectonic uplift causing the waterways over time to become non-traversable. Furthermore I could show a potential link between high status settlements and control over important paths for communication over water.