Capitalism in Central Norrland, Sweden, during the Iron Age

The authors challenge the opinion that a traditional hunter-gatherer culture existed during the Iron Age in the forested interior of central Norrland (En. Northern Sweden). Two new and several earlier pollen analyses together with osteological finds from domestic animals confirm that extensive fores...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current Swedish Archaeology
Main Authors: Henrik von Stedingt, Evert Baudou
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Svenska Arkeologiska Samfundet 2006
Subjects:
Vegetation history
pollen analysis
land use
forest grazing
animal husbandry
iron production
Archaeology
CC1-960
Northern Sweden
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.37718/CSA.2006.09
https://doaj.org/article/cdce6a08213845b08328ea23a86fab63
Description
Summary:The authors challenge the opinion that a traditional hunter-gatherer culture existed during the Iron Age in the forested interior of central Norrland (En. Northern Sweden). Two new and several earlier pollen analyses together with osteological finds from domestic animals confirm that extensive forest grazing was widespread throughout the interior. The distribution of iron slag deposits suggests that iron production is a key factor to understanding the society in the area. The modes of subsistence, the low-technology ironwork, and a common conceptual world as reflected in the graves on the coast and in the interior can be viewed as elements of an early capitalistic system.

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