This book explores the construction of regional identities in the Early Bronze Age through the temporal variation in burial practice in Southwest Norway. Earthen barrows from the regions Etne, Karmøy, Jæren, and Lista are used as the archaeological source for this study. How historically constituted structures together with external practice form part of an open-ended process of identity construction is investigated. Previous research has often used a set, rigid definition of identity, and earthen barrows along the coast of Southwest Norway have therefore frequently been portrayed as part of a southern Scandinavian culture. These perceptions are not necessarily wrong, but neglect the complicated processes that give rise to groups. In this study it is argued that patterns found in the material remains, both unintentional and intentional, express regional variation. Through a quantitative methodology based on a selection of focus points and spatial analysis in ArcGIS the multifaceted process behind identity construction is showcased. As a result, the southwest coast of Norway during the Early Bronze Age can be seen as a more complex and dynamic region. Although many similarities between regions are shared, they are also clearly divided and competitive.
Author(s): Knut Ivar Austvoll
Series: AmS-Varia, 60
Publisher: Museum of Archaeology, University of Stavanger
Year: 2019
Language: English
Pages: 80
City: Stavanger
Preface 5
1. Introduction 7
2. Burial mounds and 'identity' in a research historical narrative 9
2.1 The establishment of a Bronze Age in Southwest Norway 9
2.2 Burial mounds, identity and Norwegian Bronze Age research 10
2.3 Conceptualizing the burial mound 11
2.4 The mound in a maritime perspective 12
2.5 The Southwest Norwegian Bronze Age in a wider context 13
2.6 Summary and preliminary outlook 14
3. 'Identity' as a theoretical and methodological framework 15
3.1 Defining identity 15
3.2. Towards a theory of practice 16
3.3 Applying a theory of practice 18
3.3.1 The data 18
3.3.2 Structure of analysis 19
4. A brief regional overview of Southwest Norway 21
4.1 The burial mound – a short presentation 21
4.2 Etne 21
4.3 Karmøy 21
4.4 Jæren 22
4.5 Lista 22
5. The archaeological data – the burial mounds 23
5.1 Etne 23
5.2 Karmøy 24
5.3 Jæren 29
5.4 Lista in Farsund 35
6. Structuring the archaeological data 39
6.1 Landscape 39
6.2 Burial construction 43
6.3 Cairns 44
6.4 Treatment of the deceased 46
6.5 Gender categorisation 47
6.6 Artefacts 48
6.7 Summary and preliminary results 48
7. Constructing identities 51
7.1 Theoretical ideas on social identificationn 52
7.2 A practical outline on social identification 54
7.2.1 The female traveller – Period II 54
7.2.2 The male traveller – Period III 55
7.2.3 The multispatial cairn 57
7.3 Re-considering social structures in the Early Bronze Age 58
7.4 Concluding remarks 59
References 60
Endnotes 68
Appendix 1: Catalogue of graves in Southwest Norway 69
Appendix II: Recalibrated 14C-dates 78
Appendix III: Distribution maps 79
