THE SOCIAL STATUS OF WOMEN IN LATVIA IN THE 7TH–13TH CENTURIES, IN THE LIGHT OF PALAEODEMOGRAPHIC DATA; pp. 56–71

Abstract

Introduction In Latvia, somewhat differently to western Europe, the Iron Age refers to the period 500 BC-1200 AD. This was a new phase of historical development. Iron axes, ploughshares, mattocks, sickles and scythes made possible the rapid development of agriculture and animal husbandry; the smelting and smithing of iron promoted the development of crafts and exchange, as well as weaponry and the art of war. This rapid economic development was accompanied by important changes in social relations, expressed in terms of social and material stratification, the emergence of leaders and the development of military retinues (Vasks et al. 1997). Women's social status and role in Middle and Late Iron Age society in Latvia has been analysed by researchers working in various fields. Back in 1921, historian Arturs Svabe, whose findings were based mainly on the study of folklore, strove to reconstruct the social structure of Early Medieval Latvia. Svabe recognises that women's rights and duties in the kin group and family were dependent on inheritance rights, in accordance with which land could be inherited only by sons. Daughters inherited part of the father's moveable property, most commonly a dowry in the form of money. In addition to this, the dowry provided by the mother was also important: this included livestock, clothes, furniture and ornaments (Svabe 1921). Women's rights to property and inheritance have been studied in detail by historian Vija Stikane, based on Germanic, Saxon, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian and Slavic common law, recorded mainly in the 9th-13th century, as well as Couronian and Latgallian common law, evidence of which is preserved in 16th-17th century records, in conjunction with folklore and ethnographic material. In accordance with these sources, women were subject to guardianship; they had no voting rights in assemblies or rights to own property. On the other hand, women also had fewer duties: they did not take part in war and did not pay dues. The woman's property-owning guardian--the father, husband, elder brother, uncle or sons--assumed the public duties and rights connected with inheritance in the her place (Stikane 1997). Archaeologist Andris Sne has analysed the question of women's social status in the societies of eastern Latvia in the 7th-12th centuries, utilising the archaeological material from pre-Christian cemeteries. Focussing mainly on the proportion of female and male burials among inhumations and cremations, and on the artefacts and ornaments found in the graves (Fig. 1), he tries to assess the opportunities open to women for playing a more important role in the society of their day (Sne 2003). [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] The objective of this paper is to provide an insight into women's social role and living conditions in Iron Age society in Latvia, based on the palaeodemographic data obtainable from osteological material recovered in the course of cemetery excavations. Material and methods Palaeodemographic analysis could be undertaken on material from the cemetery of Lejasbiteni, completely excavated in 1961-1964 by V. Urtans and dated to the 3rd-10th centuries AD. In the 3rd-5th century, the dead were buried in collective barrows, and later in flat graves around the barrows. The cemetery was used more intensively from the 7th century onwards, something that has been explained in terms of population increase (Urtans 1965). Altogether, 459 burials were found in the territory of the cemetery. Sex and age could be determined for 188 (41%) of the 7th-10th century inhumations. The second site chosen for study was the 10th-13th century Liv cemetery of Salaspils Laukskola, where 610 burials were excavated by V. Ginters (1936-1937) and A. Zarina (1967-1975). Three forms of burial were observed at the cemetery: 425 inhumations, 165 cremations and 20 symbolic burials (Zarina 2006a). In this case, it was possible to compare demographic statistics for inhumations and cremations from the same cemetery. …