Disciplinating the Past - The Antiquarian Striving for Interpretative Supremacy

Mats Burström

doi:10.37718/csa.1997.03

Abstract

The establishment of archaeology as a separate discipline involved a disciplination of interpretation. The interpretative task was from now on supposed to be performed solely by professionals. This meant that the former antiquarian interest in ideas held by common people about ancient artefacts and monuments almost vanished in Sweden during the late nineteenth century. Today, with the archaeological focus on the interpretation of meaning, there is a renewed interest in the folklore surrounding ancient objects.

Highlights

Before the establishment of archaeology as a separate discipline antiquarians made no distinction, in their interest, between archaeology and folklore
During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the antiquarian interest focused on monuments that were well visible in the landscape
Many large mounds were supposed to be built over ancient kings

Summary

Introduction

Before the establishment of archaeology as a separate discipline antiquarians made no distinction, in their interest, between archaeology and folklore. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries the antiquarian interest focused on monuments that were well visible in the landscape. The antiquarian interest in folklore continued well into the nineteenth century.

Results

Conclusion