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Shards of Identity: Rhenish pottery and cultural expression in the Viking Age emporia of Hedeby and Kaupang

Asbreuk, Stef Jochem LU (2025) ARKM21 20251
Archaeology
Abstract
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. Within the emporia a wealth of artefacts was found, including imported Rhenish pottery that was restricted to these trade settlements.
Incorporating the spatial data of both imported Rhenish pottery and other artefact types at two of these emporia, Hedeby and Kaupang, a spatial and contextual analysis was carried out using Kernel Density... (More)
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. Within the emporia a wealth of artefacts was found, including imported Rhenish pottery that was restricted to these trade settlements.
Incorporating the spatial data of both imported Rhenish pottery and other artefact types at two of these emporia, Hedeby and Kaupang, a spatial and contextual analysis was carried out using Kernel Density Estimation in GIS. The spatial analysis focused on the distribution of the pottery within the settlement while the contextual analysis examines the material within the context it was found and the material assemblage surrounding it. The analysis shows that there is a distinction possible with areas that contain high amounts of Rhenish pottery, this correlates with other artefact types from the Frankish area, but also equal amounts of local and non-local artefact types. This study argues for a hybrid material culture that existed within the emporia that developed by the prolonged interaction of diverse cultural groups. (Less)
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author
Asbreuk, Stef Jochem LU
supervisor
organization
course
ARKM21 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Viking Age, Rhenish pottery, Hedeby, Kaupang, spatial analysis, contextual analysis, GIS, transnationalism, identity
language
English
id
9195646
date added to LUP
2025-09-09 14:29:30
date last changed
2025-09-09 14:29:30
@misc{9195646,
  abstract     = {{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. Within the emporia a wealth of artefacts was found, including imported Rhenish pottery that was restricted to these trade settlements.
Incorporating the spatial data of both imported Rhenish pottery and other artefact types at two of these emporia, Hedeby and Kaupang, a spatial and contextual analysis was carried out using Kernel Density Estimation in GIS. The spatial analysis focused on the distribution of the pottery within the settlement while the contextual analysis examines the material within the context it was found and the material assemblage surrounding it. The analysis shows that there is a distinction possible with areas that contain high amounts of Rhenish pottery, this correlates with other artefact types from the Frankish area, but also equal amounts of local and non-local artefact types. This study argues for a hybrid material culture that existed within the emporia that developed by the prolonged interaction of diverse cultural groups.}},
  author       = {{Asbreuk, Stef Jochem}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Shards of Identity: Rhenish pottery and cultural expression in the Viking Age emporia of Hedeby and Kaupang}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}