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IS-MOBIL-Mobilitetsprogr.f.utl.Ph.D-stu

Lost in the archive: Viking Age monument and artefact re-use and the re-interpretation of old finds at the Arch. museum Univ. of Stavanger

Awarded: NOK 90,999

Project Manager:

Project Number:

211246

Project Period:

2011 - 2012

Subject Fields:

Recent studies at the Arkeologisk museum Universitetet i Stavanger (AmUiS) have shown that the datings of archaeological finds at the museum have sometimes been misinterpreted in earlier times. While the museum catalogue suggested only one time period for certain finds - such as grave mounds, for instance - it turned out that in fact more periods were involved. This suggests evidence of monument re-use, a burial custom that has been a subject of research over the last two decades in Britain: People in the Viking Age re-used ancient monuments in order to define their identities through their ancestors. This was done for claiming land rights but also for religious reasons. Research on re-use also involves artefacts (such as, for instance, Stone-Age tools in Viking-Age graves); but archaeologists interpret the deposition of ancient artefacts in graves rather in terms of superstition. A discussion with museum staff resulted in the agreement that many more cases of monument and artefact re-use are to be expe cted in the museum archive and need to be recovered. A re-evaluation of these finds is important because it will shed more light on one of the historically crucial periods in Rogaland, the Viking Age. Additionally, a correction of these errors, make furth er significant research possible that is based on objects from the archive. The proposed project is a pilot project; similar research has not been conducted at the AmUiS before. Related projects will follow and serve as a model for other museums.

Funding scheme:

IS-MOBIL-Mobilitetsprogr.f.utl.Ph.D-stu

Thematic Areas and Topics

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