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As Long as it Glitters : A Re-evaluation of the Mixed Silver Hoards of Bornholm, Denmark

Ingvardson, Gitte LU (2018)
Abstract
This chapter considers the phenomenon of mixed hoards, containing both minted and non-minted silver, from the Baltic island of Bornholm. Rather than following a general Scandinavian trend towards coin-only hoards, on Bornholm mixed hoards dominated until the twelfth century. They are often interpreted as signifying a somewhat primitive bullion economy, within which coins, ingots, jewellery, and scrap silver were traded and treated equally as a means of payment. In this chapter, this interpretation is re-evaluated. Six in-depth case studies are presented, providing a rich narrative context for each hoard. This reveals how mixed hoards with varying compositions and depositional contexts occupied different economic spheres, relating to the... (More)
This chapter considers the phenomenon of mixed hoards, containing both minted and non-minted silver, from the Baltic island of Bornholm. Rather than following a general Scandinavian trend towards coin-only hoards, on Bornholm mixed hoards dominated until the twelfth century. They are often interpreted as signifying a somewhat primitive bullion economy, within which coins, ingots, jewellery, and scrap silver were traded and treated equally as a means of payment. In this chapter, this interpretation is re-evaluated. Six in-depth case studies are presented, providing a rich narrative context for each hoard. This reveals how mixed hoards with varying compositions and depositional contexts occupied different economic spheres, relating to the monetary, productive, and ritual uses of silver. Hoards should not be seen as a uniform phenomenon, but as mirrors reflecting individual life stories. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Bornholm, mixed hoards, economic spheres, hoard biographies, monetary uses of silver, silversmithing, ritual deposition
host publication
Silver, Butter, Cloth : Monetary and Social Economies in the Viking Age - Monetary and Social Economies in the Viking Age
editor
Kershaw, Jane and Williams, Gareth
pages
25 pages
publisher
Oxford University Press
ISBN
9780198827986
DOI
10.1093/oso/9780198827986.001.0001
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
11c34615-ecc7-4aff-90d8-10d5680c8754
date added to LUP
2020-03-04 15:20:23
date last changed
2020-03-04 15:24:26
@inbook{11c34615-ecc7-4aff-90d8-10d5680c8754,
  abstract     = {{This chapter considers the phenomenon of mixed hoards, containing both minted and non-minted silver, from the Baltic island of Bornholm. Rather than following a general Scandinavian trend towards coin-only hoards, on Bornholm mixed hoards dominated until the twelfth century. They are often interpreted as signifying a somewhat primitive bullion economy, within which coins, ingots, jewellery, and scrap silver were traded and treated equally as a means of payment. In this chapter, this interpretation is re-evaluated. Six in-depth case studies are presented, providing a rich narrative context for each hoard. This reveals how mixed hoards with varying compositions and depositional contexts occupied different economic spheres, relating to the monetary, productive, and ritual uses of silver. Hoards should not be seen as a uniform phenomenon, but as mirrors reflecting individual life stories.}},
  author       = {{Ingvardson, Gitte}},
  booktitle    = {{Silver, Butter, Cloth : Monetary and Social Economies in the Viking Age}},
  editor       = {{Kershaw, Jane and Williams, Gareth}},
  isbn         = {{9780198827986}},
  keywords     = {{Bornholm; mixed hoards; economic spheres; hoard biographies; monetary uses of silver; silversmithing; ritual deposition}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  title        = {{As Long as it Glitters : A Re-evaluation of the Mixed Silver Hoards of Bornholm, Denmark}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780198827986.001.0001}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/oso/9780198827986.001.0001}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}