ARCH 1870 Environmental Archaeology, Fall 2015 Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-2:20 pm, Location: Rhode Island Hall 108 Instructor: Brett Kaufman
[email protected] ARCH 1870 Environmental Archaeology Brett Kaufman Office Hours: Tuesday, 2:30-4:30 pm Rhode Island Hall 007 This presentation and the images within are for educational purposes only, and are not to be distributed. Cultural Ecology and Political Economy of the North Atlantic Viking Islands (Iceland and Greenland) Cultural Background Political Economy and Cultural Ecology of Viking Iceland, and Review of Byock 2001 Paleoenvironment and Subsistence Practices Foundation and Decline of Viking Age Greenland, and Review of Dugmore et al. 2012 Cultural Background Chronology Settlement Period Phase, 870-930 AD Development of the Icelandic Free State Phase, 930-1150 AD Big Chieftain Phase, 1150-1262 AD End of Free State, 1262-1944 AD Kellogg and Smiley 2001 In 860 AD, Harald Fairhair became the first king of Norway. Until this point, autonomous Norse landowning chieftains vied for property and followers and settled their disputes at local legal assemblies (things). In the process of King Harald’s formation of a monarchic state, several landowners and holders of noble titles found themselves at odds with the new king. Instead of capitulating or standing up to an army, they took their chances with their households and migrated to Iceland and several other islands such as the Faroes, Hebrides, Shetlands, and Orkneys. Norse maritime routes and settlement (Byock 2001) The Viking Age is dated from around 800-1100 AD. Viking society converted in waves from the Norse religion (Odin, Thor, Freyja, elves), to Christianity (King (St.) Olaf in Norway began this process), however many Norse religious traditions persist today such as diverting infrastructure construction away from places believed to be elf habitat.