Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Järnålderns Skåne : samhälle, centra och regioner

Helgesson, Bertil LU (2002) In Acta Archaeologica Lundensia. Series in 8° 38.
Abstract
The first purpose of this dissertation is to describe and discuss the development of the Iron Age society in Scania. The second purpose is to discuss the relations between Scania and the neighbouring areas.



The Iron Age society was hierarchical and ruled by different types of leaders, usually cheiftains or kings. To maintain and develop the social system different social groups acted in society. Special functions were often concentrated to central places, which played an important role in society. These functions were necessary in the social, political, religious and economic life of the society. The structure of the society changed during the Iron Age and the development varied from region to region. The social... (More)
The first purpose of this dissertation is to describe and discuss the development of the Iron Age society in Scania. The second purpose is to discuss the relations between Scania and the neighbouring areas.



The Iron Age society was hierarchical and ruled by different types of leaders, usually cheiftains or kings. To maintain and develop the social system different social groups acted in society. Special functions were often concentrated to central places, which played an important role in society. These functions were necessary in the social, political, religious and economic life of the society. The structure of the society changed during the Iron Age and the development varied from region to region. The social structure is seen in a long-time perspective and the development is analysed in five phases.



The archaeological material is large, and graves, settlements, depots, single finds and monuments are the most common types. The material has an uneven spread in Scania.



From 500 to 100 B.C. the social structure of society had much in common with the Late Bronze Age. An intensification in sacrifices might indicate changes. From 100 B.C. to 300 A.D. the emergence of a new social class is indicated by rich graves and central places. The new cheiftains normally ruled over rather restricted areas. The third phase is dated from 300 to 550/600 and many small units grew together. Conquest and creating alliances are the political strategies, and gold and other prestige finds were used as gifts in the social life. The central places develops, and specalized craft and long-distance trade are clearly indicated in the source material. During the fourth phase, i.e. from 550/600 to 700, the find material becomes domestic with a large amount of fibulas. There is a shift in the economic strategies where arable land and other privilegies were given to lojal subjects. This might have been the embryo of the magnate farms in Scandinavia. The fifth phase can be dated from 700 and into the Early Middle Ages. The North Sea Area and the Baltic becomes integrated in a common net of trade relations. Special ports-of-trade emerges in Scandinavia. In the late 8th century the Viking raids starts and Scandinavia becomes even more connected with Western Europe. At the turn of the first millenium a Danish kingdom is united which becomes a powerful unit in the early 11th century. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Popular Abstract in Swedish

Det första målet med detta arbete är att beskriva och diskutera järnålderssamhällets utveckling i Skåne. Det andra målet är att diskutera förhållandet mellan Skåne och angränsande områden.



Järnålderssamhället var hierarkiskt uppbyggt och styrdes av olika typer av ledare, vanligen hövdingar eller kungar. Olika sociala grupper verkade i samhället för att bibehålla och utveckla samhällssystemet. Speciella funktioner var ofta koncentrerade till centralplatser, vilka spelade en viktig roll i samhället. Dessa funktioner var livsviktiga inom samhällets sociala, politiska, religiösa och ekonomiska liv. Samhällets struktur varierade under järnålderns lopp och utvecklingen skiftade från... (More)
Popular Abstract in Swedish

Det första målet med detta arbete är att beskriva och diskutera järnålderssamhällets utveckling i Skåne. Det andra målet är att diskutera förhållandet mellan Skåne och angränsande områden.



Järnålderssamhället var hierarkiskt uppbyggt och styrdes av olika typer av ledare, vanligen hövdingar eller kungar. Olika sociala grupper verkade i samhället för att bibehålla och utveckla samhällssystemet. Speciella funktioner var ofta koncentrerade till centralplatser, vilka spelade en viktig roll i samhället. Dessa funktioner var livsviktiga inom samhällets sociala, politiska, religiösa och ekonomiska liv. Samhällets struktur varierade under järnålderns lopp och utvecklingen skiftade från region till region. Samhällsstrukturen analyseras i ett långtidperspektiv och utvecklingen omfattar fem huvudsakliga stadier.



Det arkeologiska materialet från Skåne är stort, och gravar, boplatser, depåer, enstaka fynd och fasta fornlämningar är de vanligaste formerna. Materialet har en ojämn spridning inom landskapet.



Från 500 till 100 f.Kr. var samhället i hög grad strukturerat som under sen bronsålder. En intensifiering av offer kan indikera att förändringar är på gång. Från 100 f.Kr. till 300 e.Kr. indikerar rika gravar och centralplatser uppkomsten av en ny social klass. De nya hövdingarna styr vanligen över förhållandevis små områden. Det tredje stadiet kan dateras till 300 till 550/600 och många små enheter växer samman. Att skapa allianser och erövring var tidens politiska strategier, och guld och andra prestigefynd användes som gåvor inom det sociala livet. Centralplatserna utvecklas, och specialiserat hantverk och långväga varuutbyte indikeras klart i materialet. Under det fjärde stadiet, dvs. från 550/600 till 700, blir det arkeologiska materialet till stor del inhemskt med många fibulor. Det sker en omläggning av ekonomiska strategier där odlingsmark och olika privilegier utdelas till undersåtar. Detta kan ha varit embryot till en storgårdsstruktur i Skandinavien. Det femte stadiet kan dateras från 700 och in i tidig medeltid. Nord- och Östersjöområdena integreras i ett gemensamt nät av handelsförbindelser. Speciella handelsplatser uppkommer i Skandinavien. Under sent 700-tal startar vikingatågen och Skandinavien blir ännu mera integrerat med Västeuropa. Vid det första millenieskiftet enas ett danskt kungarike och blir en mäktig enhet under början av 1000-talet. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Universitetslektor Ringtved, Jytte, Institut for forhistorisk arkæologi, Aarhus Universitet, Danmark
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Iron Age, Ancient history, centrality, Antikens och forntidens historia, communication, defence, long-distance trade, specialized craft, king, elite, cheiftain, social structure, central place, region, power, Scania, hierarchy, Archaeology, Arkeologi
in
Acta Archaeologica Lundensia. Series in 8°
volume
38
pages
272 pages
defense location
Carolinasalen, Kungshuset, Lund
defense date
2002-04-05 10:15:00
ISSN
0065-0994
ISBN
91-22-01961-8
language
Swedish
LU publication?
yes
id
649aee3e-6867-4a73-bfe3-2258749e011a (old id 20894)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:17:47
date last changed
2020-03-26 14:37:46
@phdthesis{649aee3e-6867-4a73-bfe3-2258749e011a,
  abstract     = {{The first purpose of this dissertation is to describe and discuss the development of the Iron Age society in Scania. The second purpose is to discuss the relations between Scania and the neighbouring areas.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The Iron Age society was hierarchical and ruled by different types of leaders, usually cheiftains or kings. To maintain and develop the social system different social groups acted in society. Special functions were often concentrated to central places, which played an important role in society. These functions were necessary in the social, political, religious and economic life of the society. The structure of the society changed during the Iron Age and the development varied from region to region. The social structure is seen in a long-time perspective and the development is analysed in five phases.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
The archaeological material is large, and graves, settlements, depots, single finds and monuments are the most common types. The material has an uneven spread in Scania.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
From 500 to 100 B.C. the social structure of society had much in common with the Late Bronze Age. An intensification in sacrifices might indicate changes. From 100 B.C. to 300 A.D. the emergence of a new social class is indicated by rich graves and central places. The new cheiftains normally ruled over rather restricted areas. The third phase is dated from 300 to 550/600 and many small units grew together. Conquest and creating alliances are the political strategies, and gold and other prestige finds were used as gifts in the social life. The central places develops, and specalized craft and long-distance trade are clearly indicated in the source material. During the fourth phase, i.e. from 550/600 to 700, the find material becomes domestic with a large amount of fibulas. There is a shift in the economic strategies where arable land and other privilegies were given to lojal subjects. This might have been the embryo of the magnate farms in Scandinavia. The fifth phase can be dated from 700 and into the Early Middle Ages. The North Sea Area and the Baltic becomes integrated in a common net of trade relations. Special ports-of-trade emerges in Scandinavia. In the late 8th century the Viking raids starts and Scandinavia becomes even more connected with Western Europe. At the turn of the first millenium a Danish kingdom is united which becomes a powerful unit in the early 11th century.}},
  author       = {{Helgesson, Bertil}},
  isbn         = {{91-22-01961-8}},
  issn         = {{0065-0994}},
  keywords     = {{Iron Age; Ancient history; centrality; Antikens och forntidens historia; communication; defence; long-distance trade; specialized craft; king; elite; cheiftain; social structure; central place; region; power; Scania; hierarchy; Archaeology; Arkeologi}},
  language     = {{swe}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Acta Archaeologica Lundensia. Series in 8°}},
  title        = {{Järnålderns Skåne : samhälle, centra och regioner}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/77482916/5._Jarnalderns_Skane.pdf}},
  volume       = {{38}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}