Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

A Fall of Two Towns: Factors Behind Skanör-Falsterbo’s Decline as Market Towns in Comparison to Other Mediaeval Coastal Towns in Scania

Hellmuth, Freja LU (2025) ARKM22 20251
Historical Archaeology
Abstract
In this thesis, the aim is to gain an understanding of Skanör-Falsterbo’s decline by studying economy, demography, politics, environment, and the medieval categorization of the towns and comparing them to Malmö and Åhus. I have done so by using urban theory together with social practice theory where I have adapted a social-ecological-system. I have conducted this study by using historical sources, such as maps and written sources, as well as archaeological reports. I have also visited all locations myself to gain an understanding of the space and
environment. By studying the material, a few factors have been more prominent in Skanör-Falsterbo and Åhus than in Malmö, these are demography, environmental factors and legal status of towns.... (More)
In this thesis, the aim is to gain an understanding of Skanör-Falsterbo’s decline by studying economy, demography, politics, environment, and the medieval categorization of the towns and comparing them to Malmö and Åhus. I have done so by using urban theory together with social practice theory where I have adapted a social-ecological-system. I have conducted this study by using historical sources, such as maps and written sources, as well as archaeological reports. I have also visited all locations myself to gain an understanding of the space and
environment. By studying the material, a few factors have been more prominent in Skanör-Falsterbo and Åhus than in Malmö, these are demography, environmental factors and legal status of towns. However, the other factors must also be considered when determining why Skanör-Falsterbo, or other towns, declined. It is therefore only by putting the different factors in context to one another that an answer can be reached. Furthermore, the terms urbanity, town and urbanization must be redefined in further studies. The term decline should also be reconsidered as it appears to not be a decline but a reversion which starts when the urbanization process stops. A town is only a town while the urbanization process - which is
dependent on the other factors discussed - is ongoing. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Hellmuth, Freja LU
supervisor
organization
course
ARKM22 20251
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Urbanity, Skanör, Falsterbo, Malmö, Åhus, Archaeology, Medieval, Scania, Decline, Scanian Fair, Skånemarknaden
language
English
id
9207276
date added to LUP
2025-09-09 14:30:21
date last changed
2025-09-09 14:30:21
@misc{9207276,
  abstract     = {{In this thesis, the aim is to gain an understanding of Skanör-Falsterbo’s decline by studying economy, demography, politics, environment, and the medieval categorization of the towns and comparing them to Malmö and Åhus. I have done so by using urban theory together with social practice theory where I have adapted a social-ecological-system. I have conducted this study by using historical sources, such as maps and written sources, as well as archaeological reports. I have also visited all locations myself to gain an understanding of the space and 
environment. By studying the material, a few factors have been more prominent in Skanör-Falsterbo and Åhus than in Malmö, these are demography, environmental factors and legal status of towns. However, the other factors must also be considered when determining why Skanör-Falsterbo, or other towns, declined. It is therefore only by putting the different factors in context to one another that an answer can be reached. Furthermore, the terms urbanity, town and urbanization must be redefined in further studies. The term decline should also be reconsidered as it appears to not be a decline but a reversion which starts when the urbanization process stops. A town is only a town while the urbanization process - which is 
dependent on the other factors discussed - is ongoing.}},
  author       = {{Hellmuth, Freja}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{A Fall of Two Towns: Factors Behind Skanör-Falsterbo’s Decline as Market Towns in Comparison to Other Mediaeval Coastal Towns in Scania}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}