Viking Worlds: Things, Spaces and Movement

Fourteen papers explore a variety of inter-disciplinary approaches to understanding the Viking past, both in Scandinavia and in the Viking diaspora. Contributions employ both traditional inter- or multi-disciplinarian perspectives such as using historical sources, Icelandic sagas and Eddic poetry and also specialised methodologies and/or empirical studies, place-name research, the history of religion and technological advancements, such as isotope analysis. Together these generate new insights into the technology, social organisation and mentality of the worlds of the Vikings.

Geographically, contributions range from Iceland through Scandinavia to the Continent. Scandinavian, British and Continental Viking scholars come together to challenge established truths, present new definitions and discuss old themes from new angles. Topics discussed include personal and communal identity; gender relations between people, artefacts, and places/spaces; rules and regulations within different social arenas; processes of production, trade and exchange, and transmission of knowledge within both past Viking-age societies and present-day research. Displaying thematic breadth as well as geographic and academic diversity, the articles may foreshadow up-and-coming themes for Viking Age research. Rooted in different traditions, using diverse methods and exploring eclectic material – Viking Worlds will provide the reader with a sense of current and forthcoming issues, debates and topics in Viking studies, and give insight into a new generation of ideas and approaches which will mark the years to come.

Marianne Hem Eriksen (PhD Research Fellow, University of Oslo) primarily researches cognitive aspects of houses and households in Late Iron Age Scandinavia, and is currently investigating social and ritual aspects of doors.

Dr. Unn Pedersen (Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Oslo) is an archaeologist with specialisation in Viking-age non-ferrous metalworking, technology and crafts, her main research interests being urbanisation and metrology.

Dr. Bernt Rundberget (Philosophiae Doctor, University of Oslo) specialises in Iron Age and Medieval Period iron production, his main area of research covers technology, extent, distribution as well as economical and political conditions of iron manufacture.

Irmelin Axelsen (MA, University of Oslo) is an archaeologist with focus on late Iron Age and Medieval research discourse.

Heidi Lund Berg (MA, University of Oslo) is an archaeologist with focus on Iron Age Skandinavia, specialised in key and locking technology.