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4 - Cult, Jurisdiction and Markets

Things and Regional Fairs at Traditional Centres of Power

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 January 2024

Sven Kalmring
Affiliation:
Zentrum für Baltische und Skandinavische Archäologie (ZBSA), Schleswig, Germany
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Summary

In their article Assembly Sites for Cult, Markets, Jurisdiction and Social Relations, Nørgård Jørgensen et al. (2010) argued for similarities between the large pit house sites of the Viking Age and the early modern period’s so-called church towns (Swd. kyrkstäder) in northern Sweden. Church towns are large agglomerations of occasionally inhabited cabins gathered around churches that were used for gatherings during major religious festivals in otherwise sparsely populated areas. In addition to baptisms, weddings and funerals, these gatherings simultaneously provided one of the few opportunities during the year for parliament meetings, tax collection, jurisdiction, market trade at fairs and even social events (Nørgård Jørgensen et al. 2010: 99). Based on these activities, the authors argued for a reinterpretation of larger Viking-age pit house agglomerations as possible temporary accommodation for family groups attending seasonal assemblies (things). Even more important in this context is that religious and judicial assemblies in sparsely populated societies were important social events, where a large gathered crowed likewise engaged in trade and exchange.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

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  • Cult, Jurisdiction and Markets
  • Sven Kalmring, Zentrum für Baltische und Skandinavische Archäologie (ZBSA), Schleswig, Germany
  • Book: Towns and Commerce in Viking-Age Scandinavia
  • Online publication: 04 January 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009298070.005
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  • Cult, Jurisdiction and Markets
  • Sven Kalmring, Zentrum für Baltische und Skandinavische Archäologie (ZBSA), Schleswig, Germany
  • Book: Towns and Commerce in Viking-Age Scandinavia
  • Online publication: 04 January 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009298070.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Cult, Jurisdiction and Markets
  • Sven Kalmring, Zentrum für Baltische und Skandinavische Archäologie (ZBSA), Schleswig, Germany
  • Book: Towns and Commerce in Viking-Age Scandinavia
  • Online publication: 04 January 2024
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009298070.005
Available formats
×