Prestige, Display and Monuments in Viking Age Scandinavia

• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: PERSEE 1989
• Subjects: Borg; Lofoten; Norway; Northern Norway
• Online Access: http://www.persee.fr/doc/acsam_0000-0000_1989_act_2_1_1016

The article discusses the prestige and display aspects of some Scandinavian Viking Age monuments : a chieftain's residence at Borg in Lofoten, northern Norway the royal monuments at Jelling, Denmark the Danish geometrical fortresses bridges and causeways, with a side-view on rune stones. The Danish monuments in question, all dated by dendrochronology and probably built by King HARALD BLUETOOTH, are unique, and it is argued that they reflect his attempt to introduce new concepts of royal power. It is further argued that as most Scandinavian type Viking monuments would not have been understood abroad, such monuments are hardly to be expected there, except in areas with a strong Scandinavian cultural dominance.