| 1. |
- Bornfalk Back, Anders
(author)
-
Från stenkrigare till borgjarl : Befästningskonsten i östra Sverige, 375-750 e.Kr
- 2023
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The main fortification tradition of pre-Viking Age eastern Sweden consisted of defensive walls built in an advanced dry-stone technique, some including internal timber-lacing and supporting earthen banks. Erected on mountain crests, hillocks, plains and shorelines, these constructions were part of the martial landscape of an immensely transformative period in Scandinavian Iron Age. However, inadequate temporal and spatial frameworks have long hampered any engagement with this phenomenon. In combination with the profound demilitarization of these walls and ramparts, which dominated Swedish archaeology from c. 1990 and two decades on, this has resulted in a state of knowledge of this tradition that is not on a par with the significance it once had.The thesis addresses these issues by establishing the chronology of this architectural tradition and, with this tool, by exploring the martial dimensions of the fortifications as well as the lifestyle of those behind the walls. Data from c. 80 excavations of various sizes, many of them carried out in the 20th century, are processed and combined with on-site analyses of the architecture and layout of the individual walls. Episodes concerning the concept of fortification in the Beowulf poem are examined and compared to the archaeological material. An approach is adopted which views the material culture of the fortifications as physical expressions of a complex network or system made up by the social, economic, religious and ideological elements that define the character of warfare and its participants. All members of a society are part of and influence such “war systems” practically as well as normatively, consciously or not.The study argues that the fortification tradition including the dry-stone technique was not static, widespread or an architectural monoculture. Instead, it was constantly evolving during the period AD 375/400-700/750 in relation to changing needs, ideals and skills according to regional conditions in the political and geographical landscape.
|
|
| 2. |
|
|
| 3. |
- Gustin, Ingrid, et al.
(author)
-
Birkaborna med föremål från finska fastlandet, vilka var de?
- 2012
-
In: Birka nu. Pågående forskning om världsarvet Birka och Hovgården.. - 9789189176454 ; , s. 95-110
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This article focuses on objects from mainland Finland retrieved in the graves of the Viking Age town Birka in the Mälalen valley, Sweden. The main questions posed in the article are what people were buried with these items and what can be concluded about their cultural identity. In the article the artefacts from mainland Finland are presented as well as their contexts. An examination of the find assemblages shows that the material culture in the graves had a heterogeneous origin. The graves in Birka with objects from the Finnish mainland can thus be said to display cultural hybridity.
|
|
| 4. |
- Gustin, Ingrid, et al.
(author)
-
Elites, networks and the Finnish connection in Birka
- 2016
-
In: New Aspects on Viking Age Urbanism c. AD 750-1100 : Proceedings of the International Symposium at the Swedish History Museum, April 17-20th 2013 - Proceedings of the International Symposium at the Swedish History Museum, April 17-20th 2013. - 1102-1195. - 9789189338203 ; 12, s. 49-61
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In research on Birka strong focus has since long been directed towards long-distance contacts with Western as well with and Northeastern Europe (todays Russia, Belarus and Ukraine). The great attention paid to west- and east European contacts has likely contributed to that contacts with Finland have fallen out of the discussions. However as seen from studies of the pottery in Birka the Baltic Finnish ware constitute the second largest group when it comes to imports to the town. In the graves on Björkö there are finds of this type of ware as well as of dress details deriving from or showing heavy influence from the Finnish mainland. Some of these finds derive from the most lavishly furnished chamber graves in Birka, indicating that the elite in the town were part of a network that was directly or indirectly connected to groups on the Finnish mainland. Besides Baltic Finnish pottery or dress details from Finland these graves also contained objects such as weights, scales and Islamic coins – items indicating an affiliation to groups involved in the sale and exchange of goods. Finds of standardized weights in south western Finland is a clear indication that this region was part of a supra regional network in the Viking Age just like Birka. Objects from Finland found in Birka on one hand and objects from Scandinavian and central Sweden found in Finland on the other confirm that there has been a close connection between the Mälaren region and south western Finland. Probably products such as furs distributed by the elite in Vakka Suomi attracted groups in eastern Sweden and Birka. However the elite in Birka might also have had other reasons for maintaining contacts with groups in south western Finland. People in south western Finland were linked to routes and networks spanning much further east and by extension also to the riches of the Caliphate.
|
|
| 5. |
- Harrison, Dick, et al.
(author)
-
Vikingatidens Europa
- 2018
-
In: Birkas skepp : vikingatid på Östersjön - vikingatid på Östersjön. - 0349-019X. - 9789173291316 ; 2018/2019, s. 10-49
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
|
|
| 6. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-, et al.
(author)
-
A female Viking warrior confirmed by genomics
- 2017
-
In: American Journal of Physical Anthropology. - : Wiley. - 0002-9483 .- 1096-8644. ; 164:4, s. 853-860
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- ObjectivesThe objective of this study has been to confirm the sex and the affinity of an individual buried in a well-furnished warrior grave (Bj 581) in the Viking Age town of Birka, Sweden. Previously, based on the material and historical records, the male sex has been associated with the gender of the warrior and such was the case with Bj 581. An earlier osteological classification of the individual as female was considered controversial in a historical and archaeological context. A genomic confirmation of the biological sex of the individual was considered necessary to solve the issue.Materials and methodsGenome-wide sequence data was generated in order to confirm the biological sex, to support skeletal integrity, and to investigate the genetic relationship of the individual to ancient individuals as well as modern-day groups. Additionally, a strontium isotope analysis was conducted to highlight the mobility of the individual.ResultsThe genomic results revealed the lack of a Y-chromosome and thus a female biological sex, and the mtDNA analyses support a single-individual origin of sampled elements. The genetic affinity is close to present-day North Europeans, and within Sweden to the southern and south-central region. Nevertheless, the Sr values are not conclusive as to whether she was of local or nonlocal origin.DiscussionThe identification of a female Viking warrior provides a unique insight into the Viking society, social constructions, and exceptions to the norm in the Viking time-period. The results call for caution against generalizations regarding social orders in past societies.
|
|
| 7. |
|
|
| 8. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Birka
- 2016
-
In: Wikinger!. - Rosenheim : Koehler im Maximilian Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. - 9783782212472 ; , s. 68-71
-
Book chapter (pop. science, debate, etc.)
|
|
| 9. |
|
|
| 10. |
|
|
| 11. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte
(author)
-
Borre style metalwork in the material culture of the Birka warriors : An apotropaic symbol
- 2006
-
In: Fornvännen. - 0015-7813 .- 1404-9430. ; 101, s. 312-322
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The use of the Borre style in the dress and equipment of the Viking Period warriorsat Birka is presented and discussed. The absence of Borre style metalwork onblade weapons evokes thoughts on the symbolic meaning of the style within amartial society. An apotropaic symbolic role for the style is suggested.
|
|
| 12. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Close encounters with the byzantine border zones : on the eastern connections of the Birka warrior
- 2015
-
In: Scandinavia and the Balkans. - Cambridge : Cambridge Scholars Publishing. - 9781443877619 ; , s. 139-152
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Eastern region of Viking-Age Scandinavia. The inhabitants constituted a cultural and social mix including people of various origins and with influences from a vast region of different cultures. This diverse mix of material culture and social practices is particularly noticeable in the context of the warriors. Perhaps more than others, these men were accustomed to the practices and traits of other groups of people and were impressed by foreign weaponry and warfare techniques. They combined high mobility with a tight-knit social structure and openness to new techniques and ideas. Their objective to serve the functions and people of the town, rather than a regional chieftain or petty king, made them stand out as a group, even compared to contemporary groups of warriors from nearby places. The strong presence of influences from the regions east and southeast of Scandinavia is predominantly evident. So what can be said about the evident Eastern connections of the Birka warriors?
|
|
| 13. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Creating a Cultural Expression: On Rus' Identity and Material Culture.
- 2017
-
In: Identity Formation and Diversity in the Early Medieval Baltic and Beyond.. - Leiden, Boston : Brill. - 9789004292178 ; , s. 91-106
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In order to understand the great network of trade and political alliances stretching from Birka to Constantinople we need to consider the cultural identity of the people moving along this trade route and the people inhabiting the trading posts. Their culture was based on trade, travel, and warfare, where warfare created an ideological superstructure that affected all: warriors, trade families, and the like. The cultural expression of thees people was maintained throughout a vast area by exceptionally close-woven - and not necessarily unproblematic - contacts. The topic of this chapter is the expression of affiliation and identity through the means of material culture, with special focus on the people living along the eastern trade route, referred to as Rus'.
|
|
| 14. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-, et al.
(author)
-
Elite Burials with Bohemian Garnets in Vendel Period Sweden
- 2023
-
In: Royal Insignia of Late Antiquity from Mšec and Řevničov. - Rakovník : Museum in Rakovník. - 9788085081466 ; , s. 194-199
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper is a short note on two elite burilas from present day Sweden. Dated to the Vendel period, i.e. the equivalent of the Merovingian period in Swedish historical writing, these two burials contain the only known examples of Bohemian garnets in the Swedish archaeological material. In the text, the two burials will be presented and the garnets contexualised and discussed.
|
|
| 15. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Entering the Viking Age through the Baltic
- 2020
-
In: Relations and Runes. - Visby : Riksantikvarieämbetet. - 9789172098503 - 9789172098510 ; , s. 11-22
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 16. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Farmer, Raider, Trader, Ruler : Society and People of the Eastern Viking World
- 2022
-
In: Norman Connections. - Regensburg : Verlag Schnell + Steiner GmbH. - 9783795436704 ; , s. 46-57
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- There are many conceptions about Vikings, some of them possibly true, while others are mere colourful figments of imagination. The one truth we can hold for certain is that the Viking Age and its people, including those we call Vikings, were many different things often at the same time. The result is a multitude of histories rather than one shared history.1 This is perhaps especially apparent when considering the eastern part of the Viking World. The historical narratives of the Vikings are often dominated by actions and events framed by the raids in the North Atlantic and the coasts and rivers of Western Europe. The movement by Scandinavians into the European East, and far beyond, was equally extensive and connected Scandinavia to some of the foremost centres of power of the time. While the western expansion is often characterised by raids, violence and power politics, the eastern counterpart is frequently depicted as more peaceful, with Scandinavians mainly engaging in trade or in agricultural colonialization of sparsely populated regions. But was there really a great discrepancy between the movements, or is this a later construct based on differences in source material and research traditions? Aiming at going beyond the usual preconceptions, this text explores the varieties of roles and identities of the people, hoping to convey some of the richness and complexity that formed the society of the eastern Viking World.
|
|
| 17. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Foreigner and Local : Identities and Cultural Expression among the Urban People of Birka
- 2016
-
In: Shetland and the Viking World. - Lerwick : Shetland Heritage Publications, Shetland Amenity Trust. - 9780993274039 ; , s. 189-195
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- When Birka was established it was without precedent in the Eastern Viking World. The first generation of inhabitants left their traditional rural lifestyle and formed a new way of life. The following generations became the first truly urban people forming new identities and creating new social practices and cultural expressions. This paper will focus on the identities of the people who inhabited this emerging urban community.
|
|
| 18. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Hjalmar Stolpe (1841-1905)
- 2020
-
In: Svenska arkeologer. - Uppsala : Kungl. Gustav Adolfs Akademien för svensk folkkultur. - 9789187403385 ; , s. 47-53
-
Book chapter (pop. science, debate, etc.)
|
|
| 19. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Holger Arbman (1904-1968)
- 2020
-
In: Svenska arkeologer. - Uppsala : Kungl. Gustav Adolfs Akademien för svensk folkkultur. - 9789187403385 ; , s. 301-308
-
Book chapter (pop. science, debate, etc.)
|
|
| 20. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-, et al.
(author)
-
Horses and Burials in Late Iron-Age Central Sweden : The Examples of Valsgärde and Birka
- 2021
-
In: Horse and Rider in the late Viking Age. - Aarhus : Aarhus Universitetsforlag. - 9788771849981 ; , s. 223-243
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The inclusion of horses in burials is a well-known aspect of Scandinavian funerary practices. Among so-called warrior burials of the late Scandinavian Iron Age in central Sweden, i.e. the Vendel and Viking periods (c. AD 556/70–1100), horses and horse equipment constitute some of the most prominent objects in the graves. In combination with full weapon sets, horse equipment is a key indicator of high-status warriors, and has been found buried in boats, chambers and various kinds of cremation burials (Pedersen 2014; Sundkvist 2001). In some regions, horse burials are mainly an elite phenomenon, while in others they occur more frequently. There are also differences in how they are furnished. Riding equipment can be relatively common, while buried horses themselves are few (Pedersen 2014, 176–222). In the Lake Mälaren Region of central Sweden, horses in burials are not unusual, and the practice can be identified in most burial grounds, particularly those dated to the Vendel Period (AD 560/70–750/800) (Petré 1984; 1999; 2000; 2011; Seiler 2001; Magnell et al. 2017, fig. 90). In rich graves from the Viking Age, such as the chamber burials from Birka and the boat graves from Vendel and Valsgärde, horses appear to have been a necessary component of the funerary assemblage. While Vendel and Valsgärde could be seen as particular expressions of a regional society and rooted in tradition, Birka represents a new form of social structure and setting, i.e. an urban milieu on a small island in Lake Mälaren (Fig. 1). This contribution is a product of the Swedish Research Council-funded ‘Viking Phenomenon’ project, part of which is a detailed study of all boat burials from the Valsgärde cemetery. This has presented us with an opportunity to identify larger patterns in the deposition of horses and/ or horse equipment in Valsgärde and other rural sites north of Lake Mälaren (Valsgärde, Vendel, Tuna in Alsike and Gamla Uppsala). These graves represent places that have unique characteristics, but also have enough in common to be considered a group of elite rural burials that can be compared with those from Birka – particularly the chamber graves. Though well-known and often referred to, the horses and horse equipment in the elaborate burials in Birka have not yet been examined in depth. In fact, a comprehensive study of horses in all of Birka’s contexts has yet to be made. The Valsgärde and Vendel horse equipment has been partially discussed in several cases (see for example Arwidssson 1942; 1954; 1977; Sundkvist 2001), but we still lack comprehensive studies of horse equipment, particularly with regards to how different kinds of equipment are related to individual horses. A study that combines genetic and osteological analyses with careful examination of the equipment could reveal more about the practical and funerary role of a horse, and also create biographies of individual horses. The aim of this chapter is twofold. First, we will present and compare depositional patterns of horse-related equipment from the Valsgärde and Vendel boat graves. We will then discuss these in comparison to the use of horses and horse equipment in burials at Birka, and in doing so pose a number of questions for future consideration concerning the way in which horse-related items reflect the roles played by horses in funerary settings. It is necessary to state at the outset that we will focus primarily on the evidence from various forms of inhumation burials. Although cremation was the predominate burial rite in Scandinavia for much of the late Iron Age, the inevitable destruction of burial goods during the cremation process itself prevents us from exploring this material within the context of this initial study.
|
|
| 21. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Interactions and infrastructure : On the driving forces and organisation behind the Viking Age networks of trade in the Baltic and beyond
- 2020
-
In: Iron and the Transformation of Society. - Stockholm : Jernkontoret. - 9789198239744 ; , s. 187-222
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Trade with exotic commodities along far-reaching networks is generally seen as one of the characteristics of the Viking Age. While luxury goods from various parts of the world reached Scandinavia, there was also an extensive export of materials and products, not least from the so-called outland regions of Scandinavia. Iron in different forms constituted an important part of this exchange. But trade operating over extensive geographical areas and routes linking the outlands with the established transport routes required infrastructure and organisation. Different types of sites emerged that all, in their own way, contributed to the interactions between people and areas along the trade route. This paper aims to identify examples of such sites, contextualise some of the traded commodities and discuss the possible driving forces and push factors that lay behind the Viking Age trade networks in the Baltic and beyond.
|
|
| 22. |
|
|
| 23. |
|
|
| 24. |
|
|
| 25. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Kvinnan med den gröna bägaren : 800-tal
- 2020
-
In: Begravd på Birka. - Stockholm : Strömma. - 9789151944821 ; , s. 52-89
-
Book chapter (pop. science, debate, etc.)
|
|
| 26. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Med utgångspunkt från människorna : Sociala roller och samhälleliga funktioner i Birka med utblick mot Gamla Uppsala
- 2016
-
In: Socioekonomisk mångfald. Ritualer och urbanitet. - Stockholm, Uppsala : Statens Historiska Museer, Arkeologerna. ; , s. 27-38
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Hur kan vi som arkeologer få insyn i och förståelse för historiskt symboliska platser som Birka och Gamla Uppsala? Platsernas monumentalitet och rika forskningshistoria riskerar att påverkar de hypoteser och tolkningar vi lyfter fram och färga våra frågeställningar. Man utgår vanligen från de stora perspektiven och placerar sedan in människorna i de ramar man har skapat när man har definierat platsen. Men arkeologin är inte alltid så enkel att tolka ur det perspektivet.Vad händer om man istället vänder på resonemanget och ser platsen genom de människor som en gång levt där? Individerna, grupperna och folket är de som skapat platsen och genom sina handlingar fyllt den med funktion och mening. Människor är synliga i och kan förstås genom det samhälle som de har skapat. I det här fallet är det samhället Birka. För att kunna bilda sig en uppfattning om folket i Birka måste man börja med deras vardag och världsbild, så som den förmedlas genom det arkeologiska materialet. Jag kommer i det följande att presentera två män, en kvinna och en flicka som alla levt och verkat i Birka under olika perioder av platsens existens. Genom att utgå ifrån dessa enskilda individer och deras respektive kontexter söker jag ökad förståelse för och nyansera bilden av den monumentala platsen Birka.
|
|
| 27. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Not a camp but a garrison : Martial life 'at home'
- 2023
-
In: Viking Camps. - London : Routledge. - 9781032389493 - 9781032389530 - 9781003347682 ; , s. 274-293
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)abstract
- While knowledge of Viking Age military structures such as ditches, camps, and enclosures outside of Scandinavia is growing, possible counterparts in the Scandinavian regions are generally less known. But despite the lack of trenches, camps, and enclosures, other traces of army life and organisation are preserved. In this chapter, it is suggested that the so-called garrison in the Viking-era city of Birka, Sweden, constitutes an interesting counterpart to the camps. Despite the differences between them, not least in terms of temporality and relation to the surrounding region, a more detailed comparison of the archaeological source material also shows important similarities. The structural and material remains of the garrison are here put into context and questions are raised concerning differences in opportunities and needs for a martial organisation operating at home compared to the challenges facing an army acting away from home.
|
|
| 28. |
|
|
| 29. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
[Review of:] Viking : Ran, ild og sværd
- 2020
-
In: Historisk Tidskrift. - : SVENSKA HISTORISKA FORENINGEN. - 0345-469X .- 2002-4827. ; 140:3, s. 552-554
-
Review (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 30. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte
(author)
-
Rus', Varangians and Birka Warriors
- 2009
-
In: The Martial Society. - Stockholm : Archaeological Research Laboratory, Stockholm University. - 9789189338197 ; , s. 159-178
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 31. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
She came from another place : on the burial of a young girl in Birka
- 2014
-
In: Viking worlds. - Oxford : Oxbow Books. - 9781782977278 ; , s. 90-101
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In the mid-10th century a young girl of high social standing was buried in one of the more distinguished burial-grounds in Birka. She was placed in a coffin together with a few personal objects. Her dress was of high quality, as was the jewellery worn with it. The burial at first seems like nothing out of the ordinary. The different elements all occur at this period in time. But when deconstructing the grave it becomes more of an enigma. Though commonly called the “Birka girl”, this 5-year-old most likely did not come from Birka or the surrounding region at all, but from another place all together. What can modern research learn from the skeleton of a child from the 10th century and what do the results from one individual alone tell us about a place like Birka?
|
|
| 32. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Spaces and Places of the Urban Settlement of Birka
- 2016
-
In: New aspects on Viking-age urbanism c. AD 750-1100. - Stockholm : Archaeological Research Laboratory, Stockholm University. - 9789189338203 ; , s. 23-34
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 33. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Sveer i østerled : Fund fra vikingebyen Birka
- 2022
-
In: Rus. - Højbjerg : Moesgaard Museum. - 9788793251526 - 9788793251502 ; , s. 131-138
-
Book chapter (pop. science, debate, etc.)
|
|
| 34. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Särskilda kvinnor i Klinta
- 2015
-
In: Grävda minnen. - Kalmar : Länsstyrelsen Kalmar län. ; , s. 140-153
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 35. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
The Birka Warrior : the material culture of a martial society
- 2006
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This is a study of martial material culture in the context of the Viking Age warrior of Birka, Sweden. The aim is to establish the role, function and affiliation of the Birka warrior and thereby place Birka on the power-political map of the 10th century. The study is based on the excavations of the fortified structures, particularly the Garrison, at the trading post of Birka as well as the extensive remains of material culture deriving from these investigations. A starting hypothesis is that an analysis of material culture constitutes a way of mapping social structures and that style and iconography reflect cultural groups, contacts and loyalties.Based on the case studies of six papers, the synthesis deals with questions of the work and world view of the warriors, as too their relation to their contemporary counterparts in eastern and western Europe. Questions are raised concerning the value and function of symbols in a martial context where material culture reflects rank, status and office. In defining the Birka warrior’s particular stylistic expression, a tool is created and used in the search for contacts and affiliations reflected through the distribution patterns. The results show close contacts with the eastern trading posts located on the rivers Volga and Dnjepr in Ancient Russia.It is stated that these Rus’ trading posts, essentially inhabited by Northmen, shared a common cultural expression that was maintained throughout a vast area by exceptionally close contacts. It is suggested that a particular stylistic expression developed in these Rus’ trading places containing elements of mainly Scandinavian, Steppe nomadic and Byzantine origin.In conclusion, the results of this thesis show that the warriors from Birka’s Garrison had a share in the martial development of contemporary Europe but with their own particular traits. Close relations with the eastern trade route and contact with the powerful Byzantine Empire were enjoyed. As a pointer for future research, it is wondered what organisational form the close-knit structure of the Rus’ trading posts actually took, keeping the subsequent guilds of medieval Europe in mind. The fall of the Garrison, as of Birka, corresponds with the establishment of Christianity in the region. Such changes were not limited to Central Sweden but part of a greater process where a new political structure was developing, better anchored in local concerns.
|
|
| 36. |
|
|
| 37. |
|
|
| 38. |
|
|
| 39. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
The Viking Age Paradox : Continuity and Discontinuity of Fortifications and Defence Works in Eastern Scandinavia
- 2013
-
In: Landscapes of Defence in Early Medieval Europe. - Turnhout : Brepols. - 9782503529561 ; , s. 285-301
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The Viking Age proves complex when viewed from a military historical perspective. There is inconsistency in the correlation between home and abroad and between literary sources and archaeological remains. The break in continuity from fortification traditions of earlier periods represents a chnage in the societal structure where individuals become landowners, and there is both the will and the strength to dominate territories. This essay focuses on the continuity and discontinuity of fortifications in eastern Scandinavia in an attempt to understand the paradox of the Viking Age landscape of defence.
|
|
| 40. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Traces of Contacts : Magyar Material Culture in the Swedish Viking Age Context of Birka
- 2012
-
In: Die Archäologie der Frühen Ungarn. - Mainz : Verlag des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums. - 9783884672051 ; , s. 29-46
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Excavations of martial structures of the Viking Age trading post of Birka have uncovered new evidence of contacts between Scandinavia and the early Magyar settlement territory. These new finds have led to a revision of the finds in the other contexts of Birka. Both graves and settlement layers show evidence of possible Magyar contacts. Why is it surprising to find objects of Magyar origin in the context of a Viking Age trading post? We know that Scandinavians were frequent travellers during Viking Age; and the cultures and people they came in contact with are reflected in the archaeological material in different ways. There are considerable differences between a casual or occasional contact in a limited situation on the one hand and the deep level of contact resulting from years of living together on the other hand. The transfer of immaterial culture from one group of people to another requires deeper and longer contacts than that of material culture. This paper deals with traces of contacts with the Magyar culture found in the context of the trading post of Birka in Central Sweden.
|
|
| 41. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-, et al.
(author)
-
Viking Mobility in the Baltic Sea Region
- 2020
-
In: Viking Encounters. - Aarhus : Aarhus University Press. - 978 87 7184 265 4 ; , s. 57-66
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Tough mobility and migration could be regarded as diagnostic features of the Viking Age, it is not possible to generalize and treat the Viking World as a homogenous society. Patterns of mobility and migration were linked to social structures and contexts. Studying the composition of the material culture within a site or individual context has been the prevailing method within archaeology to approach issues of mobility. Although this approach has acknowledged restrictions, it has been the method at hand. However, migration and mobility are not necessarily reflected in the material culture, meaning other approaches are called for. The first question to ask is: what variations in mobility patterns between urban and rural contexts are there, and are there indications of significant differences between various geographical regions? Even between sites characterized as trading posts (i.e. not rural), with similar material evidence of long-distance trade and advanced crafts, we might have significant differences, relating to the seasonal or permanent character of the site. In the following paper, we present the results from strontium isotope analyses on archaeological materials from a number of Viking-Age sites within present-day Sweden. The results of the analyses conducted within the ATLAS project will be compared to other isotope studies from Scandinavia, and discussed in relation to local, regional and supra-regional contexts. On a more local level, the possible cultural influence of migrants is investigated.
|
|
| 42. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, et al.
(author)
-
Viking Mobility in the Baltic Sea Region
- 2020
-
In: Viking encounters. - Aarhus : Aarhus Universitetsforlag. - 9788771842654 ; , s. 61-70
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)
|
|
| 43. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Warrior Identities in Viking Age Scandinavia.
- 2020
-
In: Vikings Across Boundaries. - London & New York : Routledge. - 9780367364526 - 9780429346194 ; , s. 179-194
-
Book chapter (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During an era where violence remained constantly present, the life of the warriors was admired and their achievements praised. The way they lived their lives and the identity they held provided guidelines for others and had hearing on how society was structured. Contemporary evidence of warrior identities can be found partly in the archaeological remains and partly in the skaldic poetry and runic inscriptions. Together these materials provide an insight into the ideals and values that formed the life of the warriors and ultimately created their concept of identity and belonging. This chapter aims at exploring some of the elements that formed the Viking warrior identities and how these affected individuals, groups and society as a whole.
|
|
| 44. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
Warriors Wearing Silk
- 2023
-
In: Vikings in the Mediterranean. - Athens : Norwegian Institute at Athens. - 9786188536043 ; , s. 223-240
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Silk in Viking Age burials has captured the interest of archaeologists and textile researchers since the first fragments were identified during the late 19th century. The delicate and exotic fabric connected Scandinavia to long-distance trade routes and provided a fundamentally different addition and unexpected golden lining to the cloth culture that was dominated by wool and linen fabrics. The archaeological material is highly fragmentary with few preserved larger pieces, and is dominated by fabric cut into long strips with little consideration for the pattern. At times, this has led to a simplified view in which the silk has been reduced to being purely ornamental and an expression of high social standing, wealth, and long-distance trade connections. The study is a reflection on the intangible values that surrounded silk in the silk-producing regions and the extent to which these ideas accompanied the fabric into Scandinavian society. Using the two sites of Birka and Valsgärde as a starting point, I examine the Scandinavian context of silks, their possible origin, and the trade routes of silk to Scandinavia. Although silk is present in various contexts, my focus is on the martial sphere of society, in which the need to express affiliation, status, and rank was fundamental, and clothing offered an opportunity to do so. Subsequently, I discuss some of the martial connotations of silk in its regions of origin and explore how these ideas may have been materialised in the silk itself. By exploring the biographies of the silk, and the ideas, cultures, and people that shaped them on their path to the north, I argue that part of the silk material in Viking-Age Scandinavia represents an intellectual import of the Byzantine, and Arabic, practice of warriors wearing silk.
|
|
| 45. |
- Hedenstierna-Jonson, Charlotte, 1971-
(author)
-
With Asia as neighbour : Archaeological evidence of contacts between Scandinavia and Central Asia in the Viking Age and the Tang Dynasty
- 2020
-
In: Bulletin of the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities. - Stockholm : The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities. - 0081-5691. ; 81, s. 43-64
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- With the establishing of crafts- and trade centres along the rivers of Ancient Rus’ from mid-8th century and onwards, the contacts between Scandinavia and “the East” started to flourish. The trade routes of Asia came closer and desirable goods like silver, textiles, spices and other prestige objects became more accessible. Although the Caliphate and the Byzantine Empire were the main destinations for the travels a wealth of archaeological finds indicate that the situation was more complex. Archaeological finds such as silk from China, bronze flasks from Turkmenistan and advanced archery equipment from the Steppes hint at the extent and diversity of contacts. Is it possible that people from Late Iron Age Scandinavia even had direct contact with the Silk route?
|
|
| 46. |
- Holmquist Olausson, Lena, 1953-, et al.
(author)
-
Eastern archery in Birka´s garrison
- 2009. - 1
-
In: The Martial Society. - 9789189338197 ; , s. 105-116
-
Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
|
|
| 47. |
- Krzewińska, Maja, et al.
(author)
-
Genomic and Strontium Isotope Variation Reveal Immigration Patterns in a Viking Age Town
- 2018
-
In: Current Biology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0960-9822 .- 1879-0445. ; 28:17, s. 2730-2738
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The impact of human mobility on the northern European urban populations during the Viking and Early Middle Ages and its repercussions in Scandinavia itself are still largely unexplored. Our study of the demographics in the final phase of the Viking era is the first comprehensive multidisciplinary investigation that includes genetics, isotopes, archaeology, and osteology on a larger scale. This early Christian dataset is particularly important as the earlier common pagan burial tradition during the Iron Age was cremation, hindering large-scale DNA analyses. We present genome-wide sequence data from 23 individuals from the 10th to 12th century Swedish town of Sigtuna. The data revealed high genetic diversity among the early urban residents. The observed variation exceeds the genetic diversity in distinct modern-day and Iron Age groups of central and northern Europe. Strontium isotope data suggest mixed local and non-local origin of the townspeople. Our results uncover the social system underlying the urbanization process of the Viking World of which mobility was an intricate part and was comparable between males and females. The inhabitants of Sigtuna were heterogeneous in their genetic affinities, probably reflecting both close and distant connections through an established network, confirming that early urbanization processes in northern Europe were driven by migration.
|
|
| 48. |
|
|
| 49. |
|
|
| 50. |
- Linderholm, Anna, et al.
(author)
-
Diet and status in Birka : stable isotopes and grave goods compared
- 2008
-
In: Antiquity. - 0003-598X .- 1745-1744. ; 82:316, s. 446-461
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In this paper the authors investigate isotopic signatures of burials from the famous Viking period cemetery at Birka in Sweden, comparing their results on diet with the status and identities of individuals as interpreted from grave goods. These first observations offer a number of promising correlations, for example the shared diet of a group of women associated with trade, and a marine emphasis among men buried with weapons.
|
|
