University of Oslo

Graduate Student, Department of Archaeology, Museum of Cultural History

Thesis Title: The materialization of cultural identity. Imported objects in Viking Age graves in Eastern Norway.

About

The main focus of the project is the impact of expansion and settlement on the transformation of the Scandinavian society in the Viking Age. My theoretical point of departure is that material culture is active: the use and depositions of imported objects can be seen as a reflection of certain aspects of the cultural interaction. At the same time, the objects also play an active role in the transformation of identity in the Scandinavian society.
I will study imported objects used as personal equipment in various forms, from weapon to jewelery. Moreover, I will also focus on the use, reuse and deposition of the objects. Through the study of imported objects and their grave context, I will concentrate on chronological and regional variations in the expression of gender, ethnicity and social status. I  will also seek to establish a connection between the transformations of cultural identities and changes in the political, cultural and economical context throughout the Viking Age.

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