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On variations in Bronze-Age social and economic structures in a homogeneous area

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2017

Martin Skjöldebrand
Martin Skjöldebrand*
Affiliation:
RÄ, UV Linköping, Järnvägsg 8, S-582 22 Linköping, Sweden
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Abstract

Investigating three Bronze-Age cemeteries in a small area near the rock carvings of Norrköping, Östergötland, Sweden, this paper suggests that the social and economic structure of the area was not necessarily homogeneous, although this is the traditional view. Variations in the burial practices are analysed: burial construction, grave goods present, and treatment of cremated bones. An elite is suggested as having existed at settlements using the cemeteries at Klinga and Fiskeby, those using Ringeby were less organised or controlled. A speculative interpretation is offered: that Ringeby served as a subsistence area for the ‘central place’ of rock-carving activity, and lacked the benefits of trade and bronze supplies.

Dieser Beitrag befaßt sich mit drei bronzezeitlichen Friedhöfen in einem kleinen Gebiet nahe den Felsritzungen von Norrköping, Östergötland, Schweden. Es wird argumentiert, daß die Sozial- und Wirtschaftsstruktur des Gebietes nicht unbedingt einheitlich war, obwohl dies traditionell so gesehen wird. Variationen der Begräbnisse in der Grabkonstruktion, bei den vorhandenen Grabbeigaben und der Behandlung verbrannter Knochen werden analysiert. Eine nicht zu mächtige Elite hat vermutlich in Siedlungen gelebt, die die Friedhüfe von Klinga und Fiskeby benutzt haben, während Ringeby von sogar noch weniger organisierten oder kontrollierten Gruppen genutzt wurde. Am Ende wird eine spekulative Interpretation angeboten, nach der Ringeby als Gebiet diente, in dem der Unterhalt für den ‘zentralen Platz’ der Felsritzungsaktivität sichergestellt wurde, wobei die Gunst von Handelsverbindungen und Bronzelieferungen dort aber fehlte.

Type
Articles
Information
Journal of European Archaeology , Volume 3 , Issue 1 , Spring 1995 , pp. 91 - 104
Copyright
Copyright © European Association of Archaeologists 

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