Danish Journal of Archaeology

The Garbage, the Castle, its Lord & the Queen

Rainer Atzbach — 2023-02-27

This paper seeks to explore an alternative approach to the interpretation of paradoxal evidence by comparing finds and contexts. It is based upon the theorems of garbology, developed by the archaeologist William Rathje (1945-2012) in the Tucson Garbage Project. While Rathje used archaeological methods for research in garbage reflecting modern consumerism, this paper takes the opposite approach, applying the theorems of garbology to late medieval garbage practices. A case study focusing on Boringholm Castle (lifespan between 1369 and the early 15th century) discusses the paradox of finding artefacts reflecting an outstanding elite culture in a modest environment that resembles a farmstead rather than a late medieval castle. The range of finds at Boringholm is very broad, demonstrating that this was the household of a parvenu who tried to imitate a courtly lifestyle.

Viking Age Windows

Torben Sode — 2023-09-11

In the last 25 years a conspicuous amount of plane glass – windowpane fragments – has surfaced on archaeological sites from the Viking Age. These finds have not received scholarly attention as they are not recognised as a genuine prehistoric (i.e. pre-1050 Scandinavia) occurrence. This paper aims to investigate a select group of archaeological localities that all have a significant amount of glass objects and fragments, and which also serve as mainstays for continental influences, commercial trade, as well as ritual activities. It offers the study of the chemical composition of these windowpane fragments, their distribution, provenience, and discusses their potential use as windows in Viking Age Scandinavia. Based on the chemical composition of the analysed plane glass (via LA-ICP-MS) the paper argues, firstly, that the glass most likely should be dated to the 9th to 11th centuries; secondly, that there are two possible import paths of raw material with one recognized at the early emporia based on east Mediterranean types of glass, and another with a continental type of glass found at the aristocratic sites. Finally, the paper argues that the windowpanes very likely could have been used in contemporary glassed windows placed in wooden buildings at these sites.

The Late Neolithic Expansion

Jens Winther Johannsen — 2023-04-11

Although the Scandinavian Late Neolithic today is mainly defined by the introduction of bifacial flint work, particularly daggers, agricultural intensification must also be seen as a part of the Late Neolithic package, which developed under Bell Beaker-influence in Jutland around 2350 BCE. It is argued that the changes in subsistence led to a population increase, which was the background for the spread of the new Late Neolithic culture in Scandinavia. A delay in the introduction of the Late Neolithic in East Denmark is, among other things, reflected in the scarcity of Bell Beaker-related artefacts in the region. It is suggested that this must be understood on the background of old cultural differences between West and East Denmark.

The Dietary Stories of One Household: Multi-proxy Study of Food Remains at Dominikonų St. 11 in Vilnius Between 15th-18th Century

Rūta Karaliūtė — 2023-02-10

This article presents research results from the archaeological excavation in the territory of Dominikonų St. 11 in Vilnius Old Town. In order to present as thorough dietary reconstructions of people who lived here as possible, four groups of evidence were combined together: archaeological artifacts, historical datasets, zooarchaeological research and archaeobotanical investigation. The analyzed materials are covering a wide chronological range (between 15^th and 18^th century) allowing us to observe the dietary changes in relation to architectural development, spatial distribution. This research shows changes in human diet across time from pre-Palace human diet consisting of grain and cattle meat to imported oysters, veal, game, and wines during the Palace period.

Sukow Ware at Vester Egesborg, Denmark?

Jens Molter Ulriksen — 2023-02-15

During archaeological excavations at Vester Egesborg, a landing site from the Late Germanic Iron Age and Viking Age was found. The find material at the site was large and varied, providing proof of contacts with other places in the southern Baltic Sea area. This includes a significant number of sherds looking like Early Slavic Sukow pottery, which suggests contacts between Slavs in Mecklenburg and the Scandinavian population in the Early Viking Age. It is difficult to distinguish between Sukow Ware and contemporary South Scandinavian pottery in terms of shape and fabric, but the relatively large portion of rim sherds looking like the Slavic pottery type in the ceramic assemblage from Vester Egesborg posed the question of whether Sukow Ware has been imported to the site. ICP-MA/ES analyses of a sample of ceramic sherds suggest the existence of a network including the regions of Scania, Holstein and Schleswig. Evidence for the production of Sukow Ware at Vester Egesborg or in southern Zealand cannot be provided unambiguously.

Late Neolithic and Early Bronze Age settlements and agro-pastoral developments in the Oslo Fjord area, southeastern Norway

Anette Sand-Eriksen — 2023-01-13

The transition to the Late Neolithic (c. 2350 BCE) is characterised by large-scale cultural and economic changes across southern Norway, connected to the spread of a cultural package with an unprecedented homogeneity, consisting of the introduction of the two-aisled houses, farming and several new technologies. Although material components belonging to this cultural package spread fast in southern Norway, the Oslo Fjord area included, there has been a lack of (two-aisled) houses and clear evidence of the breakthrough of farming in this area.

In this article, we aim to create a proxy for better understanding the agricultural developments and the trajectories of the early farm-based settlements in the aftermath of the LN revolution. This is done through studying the settlement material from three selected case areas around the Oslo Fjord, alongside a larger body of radiocarbon-dated buildings, cereals and cultivation layers. Our results show a delay in the onset of crop farming compared to the establishment houses in the region, which also contrasts the more abrupt changes in the material culture around 2350 BCE. This demonstrate the likelihood of a more gradual and adaptive farming development in this particular area of southern Norway.

Tales from Ginderup Mound in Thisted County, Denmark

Samantha S. Reiter — 2023-05-11

The preservation of organic and human remains in Early Nordic Bronze Age mounds (1700 BCE -1100 BCE) permits new provenance work on this important period. Studies have shown that different mobility/non-mobility patterns were exercised by elite women during this time. To extend the database, we conducted strontium isotope analyses of the enamel from the second and third molars from the elite female grave from Ginderup in Thisted County, Denmark. Among other items, this grave included the textile remains of a possible corded skirt or fringed blanket. We complemented analyses of this woman’s enamel with strontium isotope analyses of the first molar from Grave B as well as osteological analysis of the individuals from Early Nordic Bronze Age Graves A, B and C.

Our results revealed that the strontium isotope ratios obtained from the woman wearing a possible corded skirt yielded one local ratio (M2) and one non-local ratio (M3). The results from Grave B yielded a ratio which falls within the local baseline of present-day Denmark. Our results suggest that the Ginderup Woman was probably of local origin, but that she also was repeatedly mobile during her life. These data are further evidence for the Nordic Bronze Age’s complex socio-dynamics.

Maglehøj – preservation of birch bark in a passage grave with evidence of forced entry in prehistory

Torben Dehn — 2023-03-31

Maglehøj is a Danish passage grave which has birch bark incorporated into its construction. An account of the opening of the monument in 1823 reports the discovery of an earth-free chamber and describes constructional details, including the use of birch bark. An investigation undertaken in 1997, prompted by the information given in this account, revealed that the birch bark was relatively well preserved and that there had been a break-in through one gable of the chamber later in prehistory. This article gives several examples of similar intrusions, which were a more common phenomenon than previously appreciated. The results of a 12-month investigation of the climatic conditions inside Maglehøj’s chamber, aimed at optimising preservation of the birch bark, are also presented. The investigation included measurements of air change and humidity carried out under different conditions. The outcome was a recommendation that the entrance to the chamber be closed with an air-tight seal.

'Where water wells up'

Malene Refshauge Beck — 2023-06-26

The article presents a deposition of ornaments from the Late Nordic Bronze Age period V. An archaeological excavation along with non-pollen Palynomorph (NPP) and pollen ana-
lysis has resulted in new knowledge about the poorly illuminated Bronze Age tradition of spring offerings. With a starting point in the find at Hedegyden this article aims to improve the understanding of the Bronze Age depositional practices in relation to springs. The
article presents the ornaments, but focuses on their context as regards to the relationship between the objects within the deposition, as well as the site of deposition. Based on the strati-
graphic observations, the preserved organic materials in the Hedegyden find and the scientific analyses, a chaîne opératoire is presented for the various sub-elements and phases of the depositional act.