Dieser Beitrag versteht sich als Kritik der mit dem Indizienparadigma verbundenen archäologischen Metapher des Spurenlesens. Spuren können, sobald sie als solche gesichert sind, keineswegs die Vergangenheit quasi von selbst zum Sprechen bringen, indem sie als historische Indizien Zugang zum ‚Kern der Dinge‘ erlauben. Stattdessen bedarf es eines kreativen Interpretierens, um Spuren erst bedeutungsv

This article deals with depictions of humans during the Vendel and Viking Age. While in earlier research, the iconographic approach has been predominant, the point of departure here are the functions pictures may have had in oral societies. As a new approach, the method of context analysis is presented. The main question is how depictions have been used differently by different social groups. In t

Little is known about arable agriculture in the Early Neolithic (4000–3300 cal BC, Funnel Beaker Culture) of Southern Scandinavia. Archaeobotanical material is rare and few archaeological sites have yielded more than a small number of charred cereal grains. In this short communication, we present single-entity carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses of charred cereals from Stensborg, an early Funnel

This study presents the results of an initial chemical provenience analysis of black and red Heligoland flint and discusses these results in relation to a previously conducted chemical analysis of a large number of samples of Scandinavian flint. The results show that it is possible to distinguish red and black Heligoland flint from Scandinavian flint.

The intention of this paper is to investigate the interpretation process of the so called sunstones from Rispebjerg and Vasagård on Bornholm, what arguments are used to support the conclusions and are they well-founded. It is a literary study using discourse theory and argumentation analysis. Rispebjerg and Vasagård are two sites situated on distinctive places in the landscape and were inhabited f

This paper presents a snapshot of a neolithic maritime exchange network centred on the Pitted Ware Culture (PWC) site of Tråsättra (circa 2630 to 2470 BCE), located northeast of modern-day Stockholm, Sweden. We used a combination of Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-MA/ES) and thin section analysis to study and source the clays used to produce 19 potsherds and 39 ce

We present the artillery of a well-preserved late medieval Danish-Norwegian carvel warship, Gribshunden. Probably built in the Netherlands in 1484, the ship served King Hans until sinking in June 1495. Of its original 50 or more guns, elements of 11 have been recovered and digitally recreated, and more remain on the wreck. Investigation of this site provides insights into the development of shipboWe present the artillery of a well-preserved late medieval Danish-Norwegian carvel warship, Gribshunden. Probably built in the Netherlands in 1484, the ship served King Hans until sinking in June 1495. Of its original 50 or more guns, elements of 11 have been recovered and digitally recreated, and more remain on the wreck. Investigation of this site provides insights into the development of shipbo

This paper examines the role of imported Rhenish pottery in the expression of cultural identity by Frisian merchants in Viking Age emporia. From the beginning of the Viking Age, a new maritime trade network developed in the North Sea and Baltic region that would eventually connect vast areas of Europe through long-distance trade. Along these routes new trade settlements would appear, the emporia.