Medieval and early modern ceramics in urban and rural Norway as evidence for trade within the Hanseatic world

Volker Demuth

doi:10.31265/ams-skrifter.v0i27.263

Abstract

In Norway, pottery from the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries is always imported and mostly concentrated in the urban centres. The few finds of pottery from this period in a non-urban context can, however, shed light on the spreading of a continental or Hanseatic culture into the periphery of this country. This paper provides a broad overview of archaeological finds of pottery from Bergen and their implications as sources of cultural history. Furthermore, this paper presents various rural and underwater finds of late medieval and early modern pottery in different regions of Norway, along with a discussion of a possible interpretation of the finds as sources for Hanseatic history.

Highlights

VOLKER DEMUTHThis paper presents various rural and underwater finds of late medieval and early modern pottery in different regions of Norway, along with a discussion of a possible interpretation of the finds as sources for Hanseatic history
In Norway, pottery from the fourteenth to seventeenth centuries is always imported and mostly concentrated in the urban centres
This paper presents various rural and underwater finds of late medieval and early modern pottery in different regions of Norway, along with a discussion of a possible interpretation of the finds as sources for Hanseatic history

Summary

VOLKER DEMUTH

This paper presents various rural and underwater finds of late medieval and early modern pottery in different regions of Norway, along with a discussion of a possible interpretation of the finds as sources for Hanseatic history. How can these archaeological finds of pottery be interpreted to function as a source for describing the contact between the Hanseatic world and Norway, i.e. Bergen? Specific types of ceramics may serve as ‘markers’ for certain cultural phenomena and their spread into different regions When it comes to immaterial aspects of life, such as mentality, worldview and ideology, these may be reflected directly in the motifs that decorated the pottery. Highly decorated pottery may have functioned as a medium for certain meanings which can be related directly to other contemporary sources, such as documents and art.[8]

Trade routes and connections

Table culture and consumption habits

Mentality and ideology mirrored in pottery decoration

Medieval and early modern pottery from rural settlements in northern Norway

Findings

Conclusion