This article's lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points. (July 2022) |
Iron Age Scandinavia (or Nordic Iron Age) was the Iron Age, as it unfolded in Scandinavia. It was preceded by the Nordic Bronze Age.
Beginnings
The 6th and 5th centuries BC were a tipping point for exports and imports on the European continent. The ever-increasing conflicts and wars between the central European Celtic tribes and the Mediterranean cultures destabilized old major trade routes and networks between Scandinavia and the Mediterranean, eventually breaking them down. Archaeology attests a rapid and deep change in the Scandinavian culture and way of life due to various reasons which have not yet been sufficiently analyzed. Agricultural production became more intensified, organized around larger settlements and with a much more labour-intensive production. Slaves were introduced and deployed, something uncommon in the Nordic Bronze Age. The rising power, wealth and organization of the central European tribes in the following centuries did not seem to instigate an increased trade and contact between Scandinavia and central Europe before 200‒100 BC. At this point the Celtic tribes had organized themselves in numerous urban communities known as oppida, and the more stable political situation in Europe allowed for a whole new economic development and trade.
Bronze could not be produced in Scandinavia, as tin was not a local natural resource, but with new techniques, iron production from bog iron (mostly in Denmark) slowly gained ground. Iron is a versatile metal and was suitable for tools and weapons, but it was not until the Viking Age that iron incited a revolution in ploughing. Previously, herds of livestock had pasture grazed freely in large wood pastures, but were now placed in stables, probably to utilize manure more efficiently and increase agricultural production. Even though the advent of the Iron Age in Scandinavia was a time of great crisis, the new agricultural expansions, techniques and organizations proceeded apace. And though the decline of foreign trade might suggest that the period marked a transition from a rich and wealthy culture to a poor and meagre one, the population grew and new technology was developed. The period might just reflect a change of culture and not necessarily a decline in standards of living.
Periodization
The Iron Age in Scandinavia and Northern Europe begins around 500 BC with the Jastorf culture, and is taken to last until c. 800 AD and the beginning Viking Age. It succeeds the Nordic Bronze Age with the introduction of ferrous metallurgy by contact with the Hallstatt D/La Tène cultures.
- Pre-Roman Iron Age (5th to 1st centuries BC). There are many bog bodies from Danish bog areas, some ritually killed, perhaps as human sacrifices, of which Tollund Man (found 1950) is the best-known. Their hair, skin and possessions have often been preserved in the anaerobic conditions, allowing archaeologists to learn more about their lifestyle.
- Roman Iron Age (1st to 4th centuries AD)
- Germanic Iron Age (5th to 8th centuries AD)
- Vendel era
The Northern European Iron Age is the locus of Proto-Germanic culture, in its later stage differentiating into Proto-Norse (in Scandinavia), and West Germanic (Ingvaeonic, Irminonic, Istvaeonic) in northern Germany.
Culture and religion
- Nordic Iron Age culture
-
Model of Hodde Iron Age village, Denmark, c. 100 BC. -
Reconstructed Iron Age hall at Veien, Norway. Roman Iron Age, 1st-2nd century AD. -
Lojsta Hall, a 30 x 16 m reconstructed hall from the Germanic Iron Age (Gotland, Sweden) -
Women wore sprangs. A reconstructed hairnet from the Pre-Roman Iron Age (Arden Woman, Denmark) -
Iron axe head (Gotland, Sweden. Drawing from Nordisk familjebok, 1904–1926) -
Nordic Iron Age boats (Hjortspring boat, Denmark), c. 400 BC -
Bracteates (Bornholm, Denmark) -
Ornamented cauldrons. The silver Gundestrup Cauldron from the Roman Iron Age (Aars, Denmark) -
Golden necklaces. The Möne Collar from the Germanic Iron Age (Västergötland, Sweden)
- Nordic Iron Age culture
-
Ceremonial wagons. The Dejbjerg wagon from the Pre-Roman Iron Age (National Museum of Denmark) -
Votive offerings in bogs and bodies of water (Illerup Ådal, Denmark) -
Stone and turf labyrinths (Bohuslän, Sweden) -
Fertility symbols. The Dønna Phallus in marble (Dønna, Norway) -
Picture stones. The snake-witch stone from the Germanic Iron Age (Gotland, Sweden) -
"Gullgubber": Symbolic golden leaves from the Germanic Iron Age (Bornholm, Denmark) -
Amulets and fibula depicting Norse Gods (this one is Odin) from the Germanic Iron Age. -
The Golden Horns of Gallehus from the early Germanic Iron Age (Møgeltønder, Denmark) -
Triangular (Drawing from the Swedish book Nordbon under hednatiden, 1852) -
"Flying stones" grave fields (Öland, Sweden) -
Stone grave orbs (Småland, Sweden) -
Mummified bog bodies. Tollund Man (Silkeborg, Denmark)
See also
- British Iron Age
- Germanic Wars
- Migration period
- Proto-Germanic
- Proto-Norse
References
- Kinder, Hermann (1988), Penguin Atlas of World History, vol. I, London: Penguin, p. 108, ISBN 0-14-051054-0.
- "Languages of the World: Germanic languages". The New Encyclopædia Britannica. Chicago, IL, United States: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 1993. ISBN 0-85229-571-5.
- Jørgen Jensen: I begyndelsen
- Bailey, Stephanie (26 February 2019). "Climate change reveals, and threatens, thawing relics". CNN. Archived from the original on 26 February 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
- "Ancient Europe 8000 B.C-1000 A.D" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
- "Hodde Iron Age village". danmarksoldtid.lex.dk. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
- "Veien Kulturminnepark". Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
Sources
- Jørgen Jensen (2002): I begyndelsen, Gyldendal og Politikens Danmarks Historie (Vol. 1), ISBN 87-89068-26-2 (in Danish)
- Bente Magnus, G Franceschi, Asger Jorn (2005): Men, Gods and Masks in Nordic Iron Age Art. OCLC 84747032.
- M Zvelebil (1985): Iron Age transformations in Northern Russia and the Northeast Baltic, Beyond Domestication in Prehistoric Europe
External links
Media related to Nordic Iron Age at Wikimedia Commons
- The Vendel Period: The Golden Age of the Norse
This article s lead section may be too short to adequately summarize the key points Please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of all important aspects of the article July 2022 Iron Age Scandinavia or Nordic Iron Age was the Iron Age as it unfolded in Scandinavia It was preceded by the Nordic Bronze Age The Nordic Iron Age and Jastorf culturesExpansion of early Germanic tribes into previously mostly Celtic Central Europe Settlements before 750 BC New settlements by 500 BC New settlements by 250 BC New settlements by AD 1 Some sources also give a date of 750 BC for the earliest expansion out of southern Scandinavia and northern Germany along the North Sea coast towards the mouth of the Rhine BeginningsThe 6th and 5th centuries BC were a tipping point for exports and imports on the European continent The ever increasing conflicts and wars between the central European Celtic tribes and the Mediterranean cultures destabilized old major trade routes and networks between Scandinavia and the Mediterranean eventually breaking them down Archaeology attests a rapid and deep change in the Scandinavian culture and way of life due to various reasons which have not yet been sufficiently analyzed Agricultural production became more intensified organized around larger settlements and with a much more labour intensive production Slaves were introduced and deployed something uncommon in the Nordic Bronze Age The rising power wealth and organization of the central European tribes in the following centuries did not seem to instigate an increased trade and contact between Scandinavia and central Europe before 200 100 BC At this point the Celtic tribes had organized themselves in numerous urban communities known as oppida and the more stable political situation in Europe allowed for a whole new economic development and trade Bronze could not be produced in Scandinavia as tin was not a local natural resource but with new techniques iron production from bog iron mostly in Denmark slowly gained ground Iron is a versatile metal and was suitable for tools and weapons but it was not until the Viking Age that iron incited a revolution in ploughing Previously herds of livestock had pasture grazed freely in large wood pastures but were now placed in stables probably to utilize manure more efficiently and increase agricultural production Even though the advent of the Iron Age in Scandinavia was a time of great crisis the new agricultural expansions techniques and organizations proceeded apace And though the decline of foreign trade might suggest that the period marked a transition from a rich and wealthy culture to a poor and meagre one the population grew and new technology was developed The period might just reflect a change of culture and not necessarily a decline in standards of living PeriodizationThe Iron Age in Scandinavia and Northern Europe begins around 500 BC with the Jastorf culture and is taken to last until c 800 AD and the beginning Viking Age It succeeds the Nordic Bronze Age with the introduction of ferrous metallurgy by contact with the Hallstatt D La Tene cultures Pre Roman Iron Age 5th to 1st centuries BC There are many bog bodies from Danish bog areas some ritually killed perhaps as human sacrifices of which Tollund Man found 1950 is the best known Their hair skin and possessions have often been preserved in the anaerobic conditions allowing archaeologists to learn more about their lifestyle Roman Iron Age 1st to 4th centuries AD Germanic Iron Age 5th to 8th centuries AD Vendel era The Northern European Iron Age is the locus of Proto Germanic culture in its later stage differentiating into Proto Norse in Scandinavia and West Germanic Ingvaeonic Irminonic Istvaeonic in northern Germany Culture and religionNordic Iron Age culture Model of Hodde Iron Age village Denmark c 100 BC Reconstructed Iron Age hall at Veien Norway Roman Iron Age 1st 2nd century AD Lojsta Hall a 30 x 16 m reconstructed hall from the Germanic Iron Age Gotland Sweden Women wore sprangs A reconstructed hairnet from the Pre Roman Iron Age Arden Woman Denmark Iron axe head Gotland Sweden Drawing from Nordisk familjebok 1904 1926 Nordic Iron Age boats Hjortspring boat Denmark c 400 BC Bracteates Bornholm Denmark Ornamented cauldrons The silver Gundestrup Cauldron from the Roman Iron Age Aars Denmark Golden necklaces The Mone Collar from the Germanic Iron Age Vastergotland Sweden Nordic Iron Age culture Ceremonial wagons The Dejbjerg wagon from the Pre Roman Iron Age National Museum of Denmark Votive offerings in bogs and bodies of water Illerup Adal Denmark Stone and turf labyrinths Bohuslan Sweden Fertility symbols The Donna Phallus in marble Donna Norway Picture stones The snake witch stone from the Germanic Iron Age Gotland Sweden Gullgubber Symbolic golden leaves from the Germanic Iron Age Bornholm Denmark Amulets and fibula depicting Norse Gods this one is Odin from the Germanic Iron Age The Golden Horns of Gallehus from the early Germanic Iron Age Mogeltonder Denmark Triangular Drawing from the Swedish book Nordbon under hednatiden 1852 Flying stones grave fields Oland Sweden Stone grave orbs Smaland Sweden Mummified bog bodies Tollund Man Silkeborg Denmark See alsoBritish Iron Age Germanic Wars Migration period Proto Germanic Proto NorseReferencesKinder Hermann 1988 Penguin Atlas of World History vol I London Penguin p 108 ISBN 0 14 051054 0 Languages of the World Germanic languages The New Encyclopaedia Britannica Chicago IL United States Encyclopaedia Britannica Inc 1993 ISBN 0 85229 571 5 Jorgen Jensen I begyndelsen Bailey Stephanie 26 February 2019 Climate change reveals and threatens thawing relics CNN Archived from the original on 26 February 2019 Retrieved 25 March 2020 Ancient Europe 8000 B C 1000 A D PDF Archived from the original PDF on 9 January 2016 Retrieved 9 November 2018 Hodde Iron Age village danmarksoldtid lex dk Archived from the original on 1 August 2023 Retrieved 7 August 2023 Veien Kulturminnepark Archived from the original on 26 May 2022 Retrieved 30 April 2022 SourcesJorgen Jensen 2002 I begyndelsen Gyldendal og Politikens Danmarks Historie Vol 1 ISBN 87 89068 26 2 in Danish Bente Magnus G Franceschi Asger Jorn 2005 Men Gods and Masks in Nordic Iron Age Art OCLC 84747032 M Zvelebil 1985 Iron Age transformations in Northern Russia and the Northeast Baltic Beyond Domestication in Prehistoric EuropeExternal linksMedia related to Nordic Iron Age at Wikimedia Commons The Vendel Period The Golden Age of the Norse
