South Scandinavia Research Articles

Impulses of agro-pastoralism in the 4th and 3rd millennia BC on the south-western coastal rim of Norway

A review of the available archaeological and palaeoecological evidence from the coastal heathlands of south-western Norway was compiled to reveal the processes of neolithisation proceeding from the Early Neolithic towards the generally accepted breakthrough in the Late Neolithic, 2500/2350 cal. BC. South-western Norway then became part of the Scandinavian, and thus the European, agricultural complex. Three phases of forest clearance are recorded — from 4000–3600 cal. BC, 2500–2200 cal. BC and 1900–1400 cal. BC. Deforestation was intentional and followed a regional pattern linked to the geology and topography of the land. In the first period (4000–2500 cal. BC), forage from broad-leaved trees was important, while cereal cultivation was scarcely recorded. Agro-Neolithic (here referring to agriculturally-related Neolithic) artefacts and eco-facts belonging to the Funnel Beaker and Battle Axe culture are rare, but pervasive. They must primarily be considered to be status indicators with a ritual function; the hunter-gatherer economy still dominated. The breakthrough in agro-pastoral production in the Late Neolithic was complex and the result of interactions between several variables, i.e. a) deforestation resulting from agriculture being practised for nearly 1500 years b) experience with small-scale agriculture through generations and c) intensified exchange systems with other South Scandinavian regions. From 2500/2350 cal. BC onwards, two distinct environmental courses are noticeable in all pollen diagrams from the study area, indicating expansion in pastoralism, either towards heath or towards grassland and permanent fields.

The origins of the southern Scandinavian wolf Canis lupus population: potential for natural immigration in relation to dispersal distances, geography and Baltic ice

Ever since the present phase of wolf Canis lupus population growth began in southern Scandinavia in 1983 there has been controversy surrounding their origins. Genetical analyses have clarified that the wolves originate from the Finnish-Russian populations, but the debate continues about how they came to be in southern Scandinavia, with many wolf-opponents claiming they have been released in a clandestine action. By comparing the geography of Scandinavia to known wolf dispersal behaviour our analysis focuses on whether it is possible for wolves to have recolonised southern Scandinavia without human assistance. From 298 published dispersal distances for North American wolves, 10 were over 500 km, with the longest being 886 km in a straight line. When also including data on actual distance moved, several wolves have been recorded to travel more than 4,000 km, often within only a few months. However, the published data are biased towards short-distance movements. Any wolves travelling from the Finnish-Russian border to the site of the 1983 reproduction would have to have travelled > 1,000 km, with potential routes being overland, or over the ice covered Baltic Sea during winter. From their present distribution, wolves have shown a clear ability to cross areas of sea-ice of up to 70 km. Therefore, it is possible for wolves to have colonised south Scandinavia through natural dispersal, although it requires movements at the extreme edge of what has been documented. As wolves expand in both southern Scandinavia and Finland, the distance between the populations will decrease, although contact will require passing through 500 km of the conflict-full reindeer-herding areas or crossing of the Baltic Ice.

Weapons of Maths Instruction: A Thousand Years of Technological Stasis in Arrowheads from the South Scandinavian Middle Mesolithic

This paper presents some results from my doctoral research into the evolution of bow-arrow technology using archaeological data from the south Scandinavian Mesolithic (Edinborough 2004). A quantitative approach is used to describe the morphological variation found in samples taken from over 3600 armatures from nine Danish and Swedish lithic assemblages. A linked series of statistical techniques determines the two most significant metric variables across the nine arrowhead assemblages in terms of the cultural transmission of arrowhead technology. The resultant scatterplot uses confidence ellipses to reveal highly distinctive patterns of morphological variation that are related to population-specific technological traditions. A population-level hypothesis of a socially constrained transmission mechanism is presented that may explain the unusually long period of technological stasis demonstrated by six of the nine arrowhead phase-assemblages.

Refshøjgård – Et bemærkelsesværdigt gravfund fra enkeltgravskulturen

Refshøjgård – Et bemærkelsesværdigt gravfund fra enkeltgravskulturen

Weapons of Maths Instruction: A Thousand Years of Technological Stasis in Arrowheads from the South Scandinavian Middle Mesolithic

This paper presents some results from my doctoral research into the evolution of bow-arrow technology using archaeological data from the south Scandinavian Mesolithic (Edinborough 2004). A quantitative approach is used to describe the morphological variation found in samples taken from over 3600 armatures from nine Danish and Swedish lithic assemblages. A linked series of statistical techniques determines the two most significant metric variables across the nine arrowhead assemblages in terms of the cultural transmission of arrowhead technology. The resultant scatterplot uses confidence ellipses to reveal highly distinctive patterns of morphological variation that are related to population-specific technological traditions. A population-level hypothesis of a socially constrained transmission mechanism is presented that may explain the unusually long period of technological stasis demonstrated by six of the nine arrowhead phase-assemblages.

From relict polygon patterns in South Scandinavia to active ice wedge polygons in Svalbard: A review of former studies

Scandinavian networks of relict ice wedge polygons are revealed by aerial photographs, (a) on the Swedish west coast and in south-western Jutland, Denmark, as vegetation patterns (crop marks) during dry seasons, and (b) in north-eastern Norway, as a pattern of shallow trenches enhanced by vegetation. The most regularly shaped and equally sized polygons occur in south-western Jutland. This is a result of the long period of periglacial frost activity in the environment outside the Weichselian Ice Sheet. The relict polygon areas on the Swedish west coast and in north-eastern Norway are situated in early deglaciated regions. Using dated shoreline records, it may be concluded that these polygons had their last period of activity in the Younger Dryas cold phase. Mean Annual Air Temperature (MAAT) values are discussed based on Péwé's temperature criteria for ice wedge formation. To gain experience of the dynamics of ice wedges, the high-arctic Adventdalen Valley, Svalbard, was chosen as test area. In active wedges in the valley plain, secondary wedges were observed. The climatological significance of the phenomenon is brought forward and discussed in view of the present climatic situation. The secondary wedges are interpreted as indicators of climatic cooling.

Out of the Past. The biography of a 16th-century burgher house and the making of society

This paper is an attempt to understand how people, in the daily practice of interacting with material culture, created, dealt with and interpreted complex and socially stressful historical processes. A 16th-century timber-framed burgher house, the Reformation and industrialization are the focus of attention. Today the house stands in a museum of cultural history in the south Scandinavian town of Lund, but it once was built in the nearby city of Malmö. Through studies of architecture and spatial analysis, as well as studies of alterations to the house and its surroundings, the biography of the house is followed back to its physical and mental origins. The architecture as well as changes in its appearance can be understood by the use of space as well as the concept of topophilia. The paper ends by relating results to contemporary sociological theories. It is argued that humans structure society through material culture, history (remembrance) and space.

Spatial patterns of social organization in the Early Bronze Age of South Scandinavia

An explanatory framework invoking the existence of chiefdoms has governed the interpretation of Early Bronze Age social structure in South Scandinavia since the 1970s. The comprehensive evidence provided by the burial mounds has played a prominent role in advancing this model. A chiefdom organization implies a specific, centralized spatial organization, and in this connection important evidence afforded by the burial mound record has been neglected—namely, the distinct linear structures evident in their distribution. This contribution focuses upon the barrow line structures and their relation to interaction and social organization. Taking as its point of departure a discussion of agency and structure, it proposes a theory of the formation of the barrow line structures. This constitutes the basis of a comparison of network analyses of the barrow distribution with correspondence analyses of artefacts, within a region in Denmark. A distinct correlation between a material expression of wealth, and nodes of high centrality in the network of barrow lines, is demonstrated. Based on these analyses, it is argued that though the Early Bronze Age of South Scandinavia was complex, the chiefdom model is not the most appropriate explanatory model available for understanding the social and spatial organization of this society.

The ship as symbol in the prehistory of Scandinavia and Southeast Asia

The ship is the dominant element in the visual culture of the South Scandinavian Bronze Age, appearing in several different media, including rock carvings, decorated metalwork and above-ground monuments. Discussion has divided between those scholars who interpret this imagery in terms of long-distance exchange networks and those who emphasize its more local significance, including its deployment in mortuary ritual. A strikingly similar system is identified in Southeast Asia and part of Melanesia and can be interpreted through archaeological and ethnographic sources, but in this case there is no need to distinguish between ‘practical’ and ‘symbolic’ interpretations of the depictions of ships. This paper summarizes the evidence from this region and suggests that it can offer a fruitful source of comparison for archaeologists working in northern Europe.

Four Mesolithic sites in Southern Halland. Problems concerning chronology and territoriality

Research on the Mesolithic of Southern Halland has been limited until 1990. Late Paleolithic sites are not known at all, even if the climate provided good possibilities for making a living. The focus of the paper is on four sites in the area excavated until 1991. They are all inland sites. Karsefors lies by the river Lagan. It has thick cultural layers and the richest find material of the sites discussed. It was inhabited c. 8000 - 3500 BP. The stratigraphy of Ysby, Perstorp and Hästhagen consisted of thin find bearing layers between the topsoil and the underlying sand. They may all be roughly dated to c. 8500 - 8000 BP. All sites have varied tool kits, including microliths. The typological differences of Western Sweden and South Scandinavia is discussed in terms of in which area to put Southern Halland. It seems to share similarities whith both regions. A proposal is given to see some of the differences between the regions as a result of differing research traditions.

Mesolithic dwelling places in south Scandinavia: their definition and social interpretation

In this paper the author assembles the evidence for Mesolithic dwelling places surviving as posts, floors and assemblages. This evidence can be used to show how space was organised, where men and women slept, and how some of the implied family relationships anticipated Neolithic practice.

Using DNA to Help Solve the Riddle of Ancient Germanic Migration

Demonstrates the improved techniques for the use of DNA in archaeological research in solving the ancient migration of the Germanic tribes. Archaeological background on tribal migration from South Scandinavia and developments in molecular biology; Analysis of skeletal remains in Scandinavia; Metallurgic investigation of historical implements.

Sekundäre Überarbeitung dünnnackiger Flintbeile der Trichterbecherkultur im nördlichen Schleswig Holstein

Thin Butted Axes are one of the most important typological artefacts of the Funnel Beaker Culture in South Scandinavia. A lot of research has been done on these objects in the past fifty years. New insights into this group of artefacts could be made by statistical analysis of nearly 2000 Thin Butted Axes from northern Schleswig-Holstein. The main points of interest were the comparison of length and thickness measurements of different modified axes. The investigations reveal new aspects on the daily use of these tools.

Landscapes of Power, Landscapes of Conflict: State Formation in the South Scandinavian Iron Age.:Landscapes of Power, Landscapes of Conflict: State Formation in the South Scandinavian Iron Age.

Landscapes of Power, Landscapes of Conflict: State Formation in the South Scandinavian Iron Age. Tina L. Thurston. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers, 2001. 340 pp.

Distribution des kystes du type Alexandrium excavatum dans les sédiments récents et postglaciaires des marges est-canadiennes

Des analyses palynologiques ont été réalisées dans des échantillons de sédiments de surface de l'Atlantique Nord et de ses bassins adjacents afin de retracer la distribution des kystes des taxons toxiques du type Alexandrium excavatum . La présence de kystes le long des marges sud-scandinaves et au large des côtes sud-est canadiennes indique une préférence pour les milieux néritiques où sont enregistrées des conditions tempérées fraîches (15-17 °C en août) et des salinités relativement faibles (~32 ‰) dans les eaux de surface. Dans le secteur du golfe du Saint-Laurent, l'abondance des kystes augmente de l'estuaire vers les marges atlantiques (détroit de Cabot). L'analyse de séquences postglaciaires du golfe du Saint-Laurent révèle un maximum d'abondance des kystes du type Alexandrium excavatum autour de 9 000 ans BP, soit au début du présent interglaciaire. Cet acmé est marqué par des concen-trations particulièrement élevées (jusqu'à 104 kystes.cm -3 ) à l'embouchure du golfe du Saint-Laurent (région du détroit de Cabot). La distribution actuelle et postglaciaire des kystes du type Alexandrium excavatum laisse supposer un ensemencement régional du golfe du Saint-Laurent à partir des marges nord-atlantiques adjacentes.

Densities of large living and dead trees in old-growth temperate and boreal forests

We recorded and reviewed densities and basal areas of large living and dead trees in old-growth forest in Europe. Recorded densities were similar to those reported from old-growth forests in eastern North America, but lower than in northwestern North America. Based on our results we suggest that, 10–20 living trees per ha with dbh>70 cm may have been typical values for many central European and south Scandinavian virgin forests. In boreal forests, it was probably common with at least 20 living trees per ha with dbh>40 cm. Basal areas of living trees in mixed old-growth forests in central Europe and southern Sweden were 34–40 m 2 per ha on dry ground and about 60 m 2 per ha in wet alder–ash–spruce forests. Densities of large trees (dbh>40 cm) were twice as high in the latter forest type than on dry ground in Białowieża forest, Poland. Based on our results, we propose the following generalizations to be further tested in other old-growth temperate and boreal forests: 1. Among all standing trunks (including high stumps) about 10% are dead, but this proportion increases for the largest trees. The proportion of standing trees that are dead seem to be independent of total basal areas. Based on this, we suggest that the volume of dead wood is directly proportional to the productivity of old-growth forests. 2. Standing dead trees (snags) are on average larger than downed dead trees. Trees with dbh>40 cm often dominate the basal area and volume of standing dead trees and living trees. 3. About 30% (20–40%) of the basal area and volume of dead trees is standing in old-growth forests. This proportion seems to be independent of total volume of dead wood. Large disturbances by fire, strong winds and insects may temporarily change these proportions considerably in individual stands.

Viking State Formation in Scandinavia: A review of Landscapes of Power, Landscapes of Conflict: State Formation in the South Scandinavian Iron Age, by Tina L. Thurston, 2000. (Fundamental Issues in Archaeology.) New York (NY): Kluwer Academic/Plenum; ISBN 0-306-46302-2 hardback, £55 & US$80 & 87.00Eur, xix + 325 pp., ills.

Viking State Formation in Scandinavia: A review of Landscapes of Power, Landscapes of Conflict: State Formation in the South Scandinavian Iron Age, by Tina L. Thurston, 2000. (Fundamental Issues in Archaeology.) New York (NY): Kluwer Academic/Plenum; ISBN 0-306-46302-2 hardback, £55 & US$80 & 87.00Eur, xix + 325 pp., ills. - Volume 12 Issue 1

Landscapes of power, landscapes of conflict: state formation in the south Scandinavian Iron Age

Preface. Forward. Table Of Contents. List of Figures. Part I. 1. The Secondary State In South Scandinavia. 2. A Multidisciplinary Study Of The State. 3. Prestate Denmark: The Earlier Iron Ages. Part II. 4. The Viking Age in Denmark. 5. Social Classes In The Viking Age: Contentious Relationships. 6. Landscapes Of Power And Landscapes Of Conflict. Part III. 7. Reconstructing Cultural Landscapes In Southeast Scania. 8. Place, Space, And Experience In Iron Age Communities. 9. Conclusions. Bibliography. Appendix A.Preface. Forward. Table Of Contents. List of Figures. Part I. 1. The Secondary State In South Scandinavia. 2. A Multidisciplinary Study Of The State. 3. Prestate Denmark: The Earlier Iron Ages. Part II. 4. The Viking Age in Denmark. 5. Social Classes In The Viking Age: Contentious Relationships. 6. Landscapes Of Power And Landscapes Of Conflict. Part III. 7. Reconstructing Cultural Landscapes In Southeast Scania. 8. Place, Space, And Experience In Iron Age Communities. 9. Conclusions. Bibliography. Appendix A.

The Chemical Environment in a Burial Mound Shortly after Construction—An Archaeological–Pedological Experiment

A number of burial mounds from the South Scandinavian Early Bronze Age have contained iron pan encapsulated, wet mound cores, in which organic material has been extraordinarily well preserved. Chemical analysis of iron pan formations in recently excavated burial mounds from Jutland, Denmark have demonstrated that the iron pans were formed by redox-processes, caused by anaerobic conditions in the core of the mound and possibly influenced or determined by the way the mound was constructed. In 1995 an experimental burial mound was erected at the Historical-Archaeological Research Centre at Lejre in Denmark. The purpose of the experiment was to test and elaborate the theories on the iron pan formation and the mound construction developed on the basis of the previous chemical analysis. Three years after construction the mound was excavated and the iron pan formation and the preservation of organic matter in an oaken log coffin were studied. Anaerobic conditions had developed in the mound core and the contents of the oaken log coffin were found to be well preserved. This paper describes the results of the experiment.

The South Scandinavian barrows with well-preserved oak-log coffins

Recent archaeological and pedological research on South Scandinavian Bronze Age barrows reveals that the remarkable conditions of preservation in a number of mounds are the result of particular construction techniques or special activities during construction. Augerings indicate that the phenomenon is concentrated within specific groups of barrows with central positions in a hypothetical Bronze Age communication system.