This paper deals with the early Christian grave monuments found during the restoration of the church building and the excavation of the monastery in Vreta, at the beginning of the 20th century. The high stylistic quality of these monuments made Sigurd Curman propose that Vreta was the epicentre of early Christian grave monuments in Östergötland. According to Curman Vreta was the royal manor from where the use of these monuments spread to other cemeteries in the surrounding landscape. However, if the Vreta monuments are viewed in relation to other sites in Östergötland a quite different picture emerges. In this paper it is argued that Vreta belongs to the last phase of early Christian grave monuments in Östergötland. The grave monuments from Vreta constitute a homogenous group, decorated in Urnes style, which on stylistic grounds can be dated to the end of the 11th century. If the Vreta monuments are considered to be late, rather than being original templates, the difference in time between the grave monuments and the construction of the first church diminishes, or perhaps disappears altogether. In particular two questions are addressed in this article: How can the early Christian grave monuments shed light on the early history of Vreta? What does the proximity in time between the grave monuments and the construction of the church imply concerningof the place, around the turn of the 12th century?