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From Stone to Bronze in Scandinavia - Tradition and Transformation

Vandkilde, Helle LU ; Wrobel Nørgaard, Heide ; Sørensen, Casper ; Winther Johannsen, Jens and Tornberg, Anna LU orcid (2025) In UPA - Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie 413. p.295-307
Abstract
This essay celebrates Professor Johannes Müller and his promotion of novel studies of inequality in the past. Here we reconsider the formation of the Nordic Bronze Age and the frictions that arose when a strong collective tradition was challenged by the new opportunities for individual enrichment available in a global bronze-led network, from c. 2100 BCE. What impact did this have on the scale of (in)equality? The pilot conclusion is twofold:

1. The Europe-wide disruption c. 1700 to 1600 BCE reinforced (rather than undermined) communal traditions locally. Thereby tradition-entrenched collective agency could impede individual access to wealth.

2. In the two major periods of flourishing connectivity and metal-for-amber... (More)
This essay celebrates Professor Johannes Müller and his promotion of novel studies of inequality in the past. Here we reconsider the formation of the Nordic Bronze Age and the frictions that arose when a strong collective tradition was challenged by the new opportunities for individual enrichment available in a global bronze-led network, from c. 2100 BCE. What impact did this have on the scale of (in)equality? The pilot conclusion is twofold:

1. The Europe-wide disruption c. 1700 to 1600 BCE reinforced (rather than undermined) communal traditions locally. Thereby tradition-entrenched collective agency could impede individual access to wealth.

2. In the two major periods of flourishing connectivity and metal-for-amber trade, from 2100 to 1700 BCE and 1500 to 1300 BCE, social asymmetries did emerge although they materialised differently. After 1600 BCE, an aristocratic societal order expanded and consolidated. Corporate strategies and ideologies were resilient but were kept in
check or reformulated. This tentative conclusion is sustained by a survey of burial equipment, monumental evidence, and metal hoarding. Insights are added from ongoing investigations of skeletal trauma, three-aisled longhouses, and burial mounds. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
A Haunting Spectre : Archaeological Studies of Social Organisation, Economic Practice, and Inequality - Archaeological Studies of Social Organisation, Economic Practice, and Inequality
series title
UPA - Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie
editor
Kneisel, Jutta ; Furholt, Martin ; Mischka, Doris ; Kirleis, Wiebke and Wunderlich, Maria
volume
413
pages
13 pages
publisher
Habelt Verlag
ISBN
9783774944923
DOI
10.38071/2025-01337-8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
a670ea27-ca48-402d-bcef-46706a18d5ff
date added to LUP
2026-08-14 09:38:52
date last changed
2026-09-28 11:52:03
@inbook{a670ea27-ca48-402d-bcef-46706a18d5ff,
  abstract     = {{This essay celebrates Professor Johannes Müller and his promotion of novel studies of inequality in the past. Here we reconsider the formation of the Nordic Bronze Age and the frictions that arose when a strong collective tradition was challenged by the new opportunities for individual enrichment available in a global bronze-led network, from c. 2100 BCE. What impact did this have on the scale of (in)equality? The pilot conclusion is twofold:<br/><br/>1. The Europe-wide disruption c. 1700 to 1600 BCE reinforced (rather than undermined) communal traditions locally. Thereby tradition-entrenched collective agency could impede individual access to wealth.<br/><br/>2. In the two major periods of flourishing connectivity and metal-for-amber trade, from 2100 to 1700 BCE and 1500 to 1300 BCE, social asymmetries did emerge although they materialised differently. After 1600 BCE, an aristocratic societal order expanded and consolidated. Corporate strategies and ideologies were resilient but were kept in<br/>check or reformulated. This tentative conclusion is sustained by a survey of burial equipment, monumental evidence, and metal hoarding. Insights are added from ongoing investigations of skeletal trauma, three-aisled longhouses, and burial mounds.}},
  author       = {{Vandkilde, Helle and Wrobel Nørgaard, Heide and Sørensen, Casper and Winther Johannsen, Jens and Tornberg, Anna}},
  booktitle    = {{A Haunting Spectre : Archaeological Studies of Social Organisation, Economic Practice, and Inequality}},
  editor       = {{Kneisel, Jutta and Furholt, Martin and Mischka, Doris and Kirleis, Wiebke and Wunderlich, Maria}},
  isbn         = {{9783774944923}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{295--307}},
  publisher    = {{Habelt Verlag}},
  series       = {{UPA - Universitätsforschungen zur prähistorischen Archäologie}},
  title        = {{From Stone to Bronze in Scandinavia - Tradition and Transformation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.38071/2025-01337-8}},
  doi          = {{10.38071/2025-01337-8}},
  volume       = {{413}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}