A Central Place ar Stafsinge, , and Some Thoughts on the Significance of the Periphery during the Late Iron Ag. and Middle Ages

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Nicklasson, Pduel. 2001. A Cennal Place at Staf inge, Halland, and SomeThoughts on the Significance Abstract ofthe Periphery during the Late lron Age and Middle Aga. LundArchaeological Reuieu 7 (2001), pp, 65-76.

In 1 998 Museums and UV Vdst carried out extensive excavations on several sites

around Falkenberg in Halland. On one ofthe sites, Stafsinge RAli 1 1 6, several prestige objects from the Late Iron Age were found. The objects include a bird shaped brooch, a pin, a weight, pieces of soapstone, several beads and glass pieces from beakers and raw garners. The objects could in Halland be compared with objects from the famous chieftain's settlement in Sldinge. The objects signal the presence ofa magnatet farm or central place during the Late Iron Age. This is supported by old stray finds ofsilver treasures, coins and weapons from the Falkenberg-Stafsinge area. At the same site the excavation of a huge farm from the 12th and 1 3th cenruries shows that a magnaret farm survived into the Middle Ages. In the paper the author discusses some ideas concerning centrality and central places during the Late Iron Age and Middle Age.

Pduel Nicklasson, Torsg. 23A, SE-561 32 Hushuarna, .

Introduction objects dated to the Late Iron Age were found. \7e also stumbled upon a huge farm from the In 1998 the county museum in and Middle Ages (Nicklasson 1999). It became 'Western the National Heritage Board, Exca- evident that we had unexpectedly come across vations Department (UV Vast) carried out some kind of manor or, to use a popular term: extensive excavations outside Falkenberg in central place. The excavarion has recently been Halland in preparation for the new railway published (Nicklasson 200 1,2002).In this paper berween Gciteborg and Malmd. I was responsible I want to explore some ideas a little further. for the investigation of one of the major sites at In Halland a Late Iron Age manor has Stafsinge 116, where exrensive settlemenr previously been investigated at Skiinge some l0 remains from the Late Bronze Age and Pre- kilometres sourh-easr of Stafsinge (Lundqvist Roman Iron Age were encounte red (Figs. I , 2). 1996). The finds from Stafsinge are fewer but of During the excavation a number of high-status the same kind and qualiry as those from Slciinge.

65 During the Early IronAge there are just a few HALLANDS LAN Roman imports and other objects of ordinary rypes that point to foreign contacts in Halland. d These objects could not be used as a foundation for a discussion of the presence of a wealthy aristocracy during this period' During the Late Roman Iron Age and Migration Period this changes radically. The sites at Skiinge and o Stafsinge contain more imported and high-status objects such as glass vessels, beads, weights, garnets and dress accessories than all the excavated Iron Age sites from Halland taken together' Obviouslythere must have been a radical change in the structure of the sociery. Since the objects that make these manors special were' to alarge extent, imported from afar, it is obvious that the incitement for change came from abroad and the places therefore must be placed in an international framework. It is this change and o l0 20 loh

Fig. 1. Map of Halland showing Stafsinge.

This could be explained by the fact that the site was excavated as a rescue excavation and by the just fact that we did not encounter any houses, :..",*,,"e a few features in Stafsinge. That should mean that we excavated in the close viciniry of the (,)hts E ti,i" t-y* manor but the manor itselfwas left untouched, '\) ten metres outside our dig. The perhaps only t'--\$'*.*, excavations at Sliiinge and Stafsinge, together with some impressive stray finds from other parts of Halland, indicate that a wealthy aristocracyestablished itselfin this part ofSweden during the Iron Age. The finds from Stafsinge include abird-shaped

brooch, a weight, a pin from the Migration Period, a number ofbeads, about 15 garnets and glass sherds from around ten vessels (Table 1, Figs. 3, I 9 rpry y5! F 4). In Halland objects of this kind have only been '9i found atthe Sltiinge settlement. It therefore seems Fig. 2. Map of the Falkenberg/Stafsinge area showing central appropriate to identifu Stafsinge as a notable ancientmonuments andStafsinge 1 16. Stomma place, even if we did not encounter any kulle is a cemetery consisting of a mound and a very big standing stone overlooking the whole Stafsinge area. contemporaneous halls and very few features.

55 PAVEL NICKLASSON Table 1. Some of the objects from the Late Iron AgelMiddle Ages found by the excavation.

tr'ind number Object Dating

F55 1 Bird-shaped brooch 7th century F984 Gold-foil bead 4th-5th century F1514 Bronze dress hook 5th-6th century? F2223 (DOs) Glass 14th century F2301 Sherd from glass beaker 400-700 F2463 Bronze scrap? F2465 Iron ring F2469 Sherd from glass beaker F2470 Sherd from glass beaker F247t Sherd from glass beaker 400-700 F2414 Rim Funnel beaker 700-900 F2476 Glass bead, turquoise F2477 Glass bead, small 5th century F2478 Glass bead, white 700-900 F2481 Dress pin Late 6th century F2483 Gold-foil bead 750-900 F2484 Part oftortoise brooch 1Oth century F2485 Button F2486 Lead weight F2622 Piece of soapstone F3149 Spur 12th centurv F3792 Sherd from glass beaker F4203 Sherd from glass beaker F5153 Sherd from glass beaker About 15 gamets, some worked

thesudden appearance ofrich manors in Halland kind of special setdement over almost 1,000 that I want to discuss in the present paper. Most years from around400AD ro 1300AD. During central places seem to disappear during the late this time span the functions musr have changed Viking Age. I also want ro see this in an radically several times. Often the central places international contexr. The manors were founded have been discussed within a regional or, ar during a period when most archaeologists and most, a Nordic framework. I want to emphasize historians assume that the Nordic countries the international character of the places. At both were formed. The relationship between rhe Sl

A CENTRAL PLACE AT STAFSINGE, HALLAND 67 @

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Fig. 3. Some ofthe objects from the Late IronAge/MiddleAges found by the excavation. Drawings byViveka Rijnn.

I 1.*i'\alr & t l. t t,:?. I at a., a t I .1 ,a t 1 I t\ i.,i-.,: t'r a I '1 +t" '" tt- I 'it 'r' ia t\ t r..r at \d . . I l. \ I

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Fig. 4. The huge medieval manor at Stafsinge. It should most probably be dated to the late 12th century and was in use into the 14th century.

68 pAvnr NlcxrnssoN The European background to (Liebeschuetz 1993). Central government and the professional Roman army disappeared. The the manors in Halland civilians had to arm themselves to be able to protect their property from being plundered. The winter of 406 was very cold. The Rhine The European economy became based on froze and made it possible to wage war during plunder and pillage, which lasted for several the cold season. Several tribes from across the centuries (Duby 1981; Reuter 1985). The river grasped the opportuniry. The western part concept of central government and centrality of the Roman Empire was invaded and pillaged gave way to private entrepreneurship and local by hordes of barbarians (Harrison 1999, pp. 4l rule. f.). This could symbolically be taken as the How could this be of any significance for beginning of the end of the western part of the Halland? There is a chronological agreement Empire. During the preceding century the between the invasions of the \Testern Roman military defences had been constructed as a Empire and the appearance ofmanors in Halland. defence in depth. Fortified towns and refuge The Saxons were among the fiercest invaders of points granted the population cover during the \Testern Roman Empire. The term Saxon wartime. They also served the purpose of was in these days used for a nasty person from supplying the army and as bases of operations the North Sea area (Higham 1994, p.39). The when the invading forces were driven back. The Saxons were not the only invaders. There were army units became more and more local, and no Jutes and Angles as well. These peoples should central striking force was posted centrally inside be seen as an ethnic mix of peoples settled along the Empire. This means that the army was the North Sea shores in a way that was the recruited locally and to a large extent from common opportunistic and inexact way of friendly barbarian tribes. The system was describing ethniciry during these days (Harrison expensive. The lack of a central reserve made 1994). One could imagine contingents from reaction times long and the ability to repulse Halland participating in the ravaging ofEngland attackers limited. Deep into the Empire the and the coasts ofGaul.The appearance ofmanors countryside was pillaged repeatedly. The lo calized with shiploads of imported (stolen) objects give army units also meant that the burden of supply testimony to the participation of the Hallanders rested on local resources (Lutrwak 1976). in European history. The Empire reacted bydiverting troops from In this way one could begin to discuss the other fronts. England was abandoned. The significance of the periphery during the period Britons had to arrange their own defence. 400-800 AD. \When the concept of centraliry England had been subject to attacks and piracy became at best a legend the world could be for several hundred years and the Romans had visualized as a tumbler-drier (I want to express organized the Saxon Shore guard for the my gratitude to Mikael Dahlgren, Lund who protection of exposed coastal areas. Their invented this metaphor and made it spin in my departure opened up the country for barbarian head). Anyone who has bothered to leave the invasions. study and go down to the laundry room will The result was the deterioration of central have noticed that the centre of the tumble-drier government and control. \(ar leaders pillaged is empry and that the laundry is pressed towards the country and hired themselves out for the walls of the machine. The same thing protection. The armies were more or less happened in Europe during the Migration privatized. The situation was not unique for Period. The centre of Europe, the old Empire, England; it happened everywhere the Roman was extremely turbulent and emptied of Empire gave way to invading Barbarians centraliry.The matter in theform ofglass beakers,

A CENTRAL PLACEAT STAFSINGE, HALLAND 69 beads and other precious objects were pressed manufacture when the artisans mostly worked towards the edges of the world and ended up in with insignificant projects like animal art for the Sltiinge and Stafsinge in Halland. grandeur of their masters? Should one speak of Perhaps one should divide the period 400- central religious functions when the only 900 into two phases. This could not be done centralized cult of the Roman emperor had been from the finds from Halland. Instead the finds abandoned? Should one speak ofcentral military from Uppikra in Scania may be used for this power when the masters of the halls could be purpose. In the 5th and 6th centuries there are likened to a band ofbrigands? Should one speak most of the magnificent imported objects that of central juridical functions when the mighty could be interpreted as booty from looting. could rob the poor? I doubt it. During the 7th and 8th centuries there are far Instead these places should be understood as fewer of these objects and more objects of peripheral, situated in an economic system that domestic manufacture. (I thank Birgitta Hirdh went through a breakdown and restructuring for this information.) It is thus possible that a that allowed the periphery to act as if it had a period with more emphasis on trade succeeded central significance. a period of plunder. From the relatively small The large number of the peripheral places, material from Halland it is not possible to and how close to each other they are, stress their discern such a break. One could even suPpose insignificance. In Halland central places have that the development in rich Scaniawas different been found at Sliiinge and Stafsinge in the from that in the somewhat peripheral Halland Falkenberg area (Fig. 5) . There are indications of and the age of plunder survived for a longer time possible peripheral places in the form of rich in Halland. Even though I view plunder as a stray finds and remarkable ancient monuments major source for the acquisition offoreign objects at Kiiinge, Abild/Vessige and perhaps Fauris during the Migration Period, the option ofmore and (Lundqvist 1996, map p. 41). In all peaceful trade should not be ruled out.'W'arlike of Halland the peripheral places should probably contacts could have opened up routes of be counted in dozens. This could be compared commerce and contact, and gifts of precious to Seiler's conclusions about the presence of a objects were an important way of maintaining great many places like Vendel and Valsgiirde in onet allies. Uppland (Seiler 1999, pp.74 f.).

Life on the fringe The life and death of the free \7hen the centre was strong during the first enffepreneur centuries AD, very few imported objects found their way to the periphery. Vhen the centre Nowadays there are many places in Scandinavia collapsed the periphery suddenly gave the for which scholars have claimed the status of impression of being central. Thus the emerging central place. Sometimes such places have been manors in Scandinavia have often been called discussed in isolation and not as apart ofabigger "central places". During the last decade these system of social or economic conditions. This places have been seen as hosting central societal could be due to the manybeautiful objects from functions such as trade, manufacture, cult, the sites that easily lead to the exaggeration of military and juridical power. This appears strange the significance ofthe place. to me from the European background sketched I want to emphasize some structural above. Should one speak oftrade when plunder similarities berween the central places. First of was the way objects regularly changed hands? all there is an overall chronological agreement Should one speak of the importance of between most of the places. I have tried to date

70 PAvEL NIcKLASSoN some ofthe central places discussed in the books with Roman imports to Scandinavia during a -...Gick Grendel att siiha da haga huset...". short time span in the Late Roman Iron Age, as Arheologisha hallor till aristohratisha miljiier i suggested by Lund Hansen ( 1987, 199 5). During Shandinauien under yngre jlirndlder (Callmer & this briefperiod Himlingoje dominated southern Rosengren 1997) and Centrala platser, centrala Scandinavia politically. The imports have mostly frdgor. Samhdllsstruhturen under jiirnfrldern been found in graves and it would be very (Larsson & Hirdh 1998). Since several of the interesting to knowwhat kind of settlement the places discussed in the volumes only have been buried individuals inhabited. Dankirke/Ribe partially investigated, the dates given could be and Uppikra/Lund are the only central places questioned in particular cases, but the overall that survive into the Middle Ages, transformed tendencies should be clear. The normal central and geographically moved, into medieval towns. place emerges around 400 BC and disappears In a sense one could see the deviating places as during the 10th century (Table 2). I have real central places. Thus centrality is concealed completed the table with some atypical central in the abnormal. places: Vttene and Himlingoje. Together with The other central places disappear. This is Dankirke/Ribe and Uppikra/Lund these are the case of Sl

Table 2. The life cycle of some of the places presented in Callmer & Rosengren 1997 and Larsson & Hirdh 1998. The dating ofa single place could be debated in some cases. The trend should however be clear. The central place is most often dated to the period 400-900. ERIA = Early Roman Iron Age; LRIA = Late Roman Iron Age; MIG = Migration Period; MER = Merovingian Period; VIK = Viking Age; MID = Middle Ages.

ERIA LRIA MIG MER VIK MID Sltiinge X X X Stafsinge X X X X Varla X X Lejre X X X Boeslunde X X X x Fjiilkinge X ? x Ravlunda X X X Toftegird X x Tisss X X Dankirke X X X Ribe x x X Gudme X X X Uppikra X X X X X Himlingoje X Vittene X

A CENTRAL PLACE AT STAFSINGE, HALLAND 7I century there are several silver hoards from the The Franks - the Vkings of StafsingeiFalkenberg area which signals the Europe presence of a rich settlement (Fig. 6). The huge medieval farm we excavated is difficult to date During the 8th century the Carolingians came but it was most probably built during the late to power in France. The new royal dynasty 12th century and was not abandoned until well should not be seen as something new and into the 14th century. This means that the revolutionary. The Carolingians most certainly central place at Stafsinge has a lifespan of almost continued the plunder-based economy of their 1,000 years, and ifone sees Falkenberg as the Merovingian predecessors (Reuter 1985). The continuing central place in the area, the central Vikings may have plundered the Franks but the place is still present. Franks plundered the rest of Europe. Instead Vhy did most of the manors and central one should see the differences in a changed places vanish during the 10th century? An attitude towards the central power. In the obvious explanation is to link the disappearance preceding centuries, following the breakdown ofthe central places to the kings of the emerging ofthe Roman Empire, Europe had been divided Nordic countries. In we have rich into numerous small lands, most of which did testimony of the importance of the Jelling not last long. Very few of these have survived dynasty. In Sweden matters are not so clear - into modern times. They were based on there are even fewer written sources than in charismatic leaders, who financed their kingdoms Denmark - but there were certainly more with loot. As long as the looting was good the powerful kings now than ever before. One could aristocracy and warriors stayed put. Ifthe leader see the kings as a new actor who sweeps the old was not fortunate it was time to replace him or locally based aristocracy off the board and seek another employer. A problem arose when establish new power structures. the leader wanted to stop plunder and instead I do not think that this explanation is enough, stabilize the gains. The moment he did so he however. It is questionable if the early medieval drained himself of the most lucrative source of kings were so potent during the 1Oth century as income. This of course led many ofhis followers to be able to change the whole power structure to abandon him and his kingdom dissolved as of their realms. It is also doubtful whether one swiftly as it had been constituted. In Dick should see an opposition bet\^'een the kings and Harrisont words, one could speak of centri- the aristocracy. Hermanson (1998) argues that fugaliry when the aristocracy look for their own the royal dynasties and the aristocracy were good and do not strive for a strong central power closely related and shared the same values and (Harrison 1997). interests during the 12th century. I do not see During the Carolingian era there were any reason to believe that kings built their power important changes in this attitude. An example with radically difFerent means a century earlier. of this was that the empire was indeed divided There also seems to be a small, but significant following the death of Charlemagne, but it did chronological gap between the latest objects at not collapse into a myriad of small states with Sliiinge, dated to the first decades of the 1Oth short life expectancy, as did the Roman Empire. century and the emergence of the Jelling kings, Instead the different parts of the Carolingian which should be dated to the period 959-1035 Empire could be said to have constituted the as argued by Svanberg (1999, pp. 1 1 1 f.). embryos ofthe modern nation states ofGermany I want instead to see the decline of the and France. This means that there was a more manors and central places and the emergence of centripetal behaviour on the part of the powerful kings as related to each other, but not aristocracy. Obviously they gained from the dependent of each other, but as results of existence of a central power, even if this was at developments outside of Scandinavia. timesveryweak.This couldpossiblybe explained

72 PAVEL NICKLASSoN by the worsening of the climate of affairs and the Age barbarian societies into medieval kingdoms. difficulty of finding new people to plunder. It In Denmark the Jelling dynasry united Denmark was no longer possible to find good plunder by more or less bloody means. Much of what nearby, and expeditions against the Saxons and happened is uncertain and the precise events to Italy demanded more force rhan a landlord or which transformed the Nordic countries from a couple of brave men could musrer. k was Iron Age barbaric societies to medieval European necessary to be able to equip bigger armies states are impossible to establish. New central or under a single leader. administrative places have been discussed: Of course this had consequences for hungaleu (royal manors) and hapingar (market Scandinavia. Scandinavia had been part ofthe places). international plunder economy. An enterprising Stafsinge is nowhere menrioned either as a man could earn a forrune pillaging in England hungaleu or a hiipinge. The huge farm must or France. He could then establish himself in nevertheless be viewed in this context. It is very grand sryle in Stafsinge or Sl

A CENTRAL PLACEAT STAFSINGE, HALLAND 73 Iittle information on the character of the places much about these places either. There are very and how, and even ie they were used by the kings few conclusions to be drawn about chronology to establish their power in different parts of the and the kind ofactivities that took place at these kingdom. Leegaard Knudsen is also critical of places, even if the element kap in the word Andrdns early dating. KVJB consists of several denotes trading. It is not even possible to documents written at different times during the accurately date most ofthe places. In this context 13th century. Leegaard Knudsen finds no support it could be interesting to speculate on the for an earlier dating ofthe obscure kungaleuthan character of Stafsinge, even if it is not a real perhaps as late as the middle of the l2th century. hapinge. My own view is that the system as described One of the oldest narrative sources that in KVJB is not much older than the documents specifically mention conditions in the lower themselves. Since there are signs that some of the Atran valley is The Saga of Hdkon the Good, kungaleu had been abandoned or transformed which mentions that the Hdkon the Goodburnt before the ink in the KVJB had dried (Sriderberg a place called Kaupst adh in 1256.This is earlier 1995), one could perhaps suPpose that the than the earliest date of the town of Falkenberg different lists in KVJB show an idealized picture in both the archaeological and thewritten record' of royal power in the late l2th or early 13th It is thus possible that the information in the century. I do not believe the introduction ofthe saga relates to another place nearby. Since system was as uniform or contemporaneous as Stafsinge is the closest place with known high- Andrdn claims. Halland is perhaps the best status medieval settlement, it could be possible example. The royal property in this part of the to identify Stafsinge with Kaupstadh. The name kingdom is mentioned in several lists. The most Kaupstadh could be compared to other names detailed is the Halland list, which regulates the containing th eelement biip, trade, such as K

74 r,AvBr NtcruessoN place or chieftaint farm established by stray Halland. The exception is certain places along finds ofhigh qualiry and the huge farm from the the coast there trade and most probably other Middle Ages. This hypothetical manor is still functions were concentrated. The places should hidden beneath the fields ofStafsinge. be seen as parts of a network of trading posts stretching from Hedeby to southern Norway Conclusions and even beyond. 3 Amedievalfarmwasmostprobablybuilt This studyshows that some form ofcentral place during the late 12th century and was in existence or special settlement was present at Stafsinge for well into the 14th century. It is possible that this nearly 1000 years, fromAD 400 toAD 1300. It farm was part of the Kaupstadh on the River is improbable thatthe functions ofthesettlement Atran that was pillaged in The Saga ofHdkon the remained the same during all this time. From Good. k is thus possible to see this phase as a the archaeological evidence consisting of the continuation ofthe preceding phase. There are, finds from Stafsinge I 16 and old stray finds however, several new features too. The farm from the Stafsinge/Falkenb ergarea, ir is possible must be seen as connected to the church a couple to trace at least three distinct phases. of hundred metres away. The lord of the farm should be seen as patron for the church. It is also I The Iron Age manor. This was established possible to connect hypothetically the building around AD 400 and is only traceable through of the new manor to internal struggles betlveen stray finds. The manor at Stafsinge coincides the Danish king and local aristocracy in Halland with the establishment of the better-known during the 1 170s. manor at Slciinge some 10 kilometres distant. There are several more places in Halland, which A possible fourth central place in the area is of could have housed similar manors. It is thus course the town of Falkenberg that was founded possible to begin to discuss a system of manors during the late 13th century, but never really that must have dominated the landscape and developed into a significant place during the power structure in Halland during much of the Middle Ages (Redin 1983). Late IronAge. These places should not primarily It is important to see the different phases of be seen as "Nordic" but as peripheral extensions centrality succeeding each other as offspring of ofaEuropean economicsystem based on plunder international developments, not as special which came to existence in the wake of the "Nordic" places lacking parallels but as Roman Empire. participants in international networks of trade, 2 A trading post identified by the name warfare and administration. Kaupstadh and perhaps similar to the south Swedish hap ingar. StIver hoards in the Stafsinge/ References Falkenberg area could date the foundation ofthe trading post to the first halfofthe I Oth century. Andrdn, A. 1983. Stdder och kungamakt - en studie i The 1Oth century is in many ways a "black box'. Danmarks politiska geografi fd re7230. Scandia4g. '. Before this the society was a barbaric Iron Age Callmer, J. & Rosengren, E. (eds.) 1997. . .gich Grendel lttt siika det haga huset..." Arheologisha hallor till one. Afterwards we find the three Christian aristokratisha rniljt;er i Skandinauien under yngre Nordic kingdoms much more similar to rhe resr jrirn,ildern. Slciinge Projektet 1. Hallands L?ins- ofthe European realms. Here only some regional museers Skriftserie 9. Halmstad. features in Halland should be mentioned. The Duby, G. 1981. Krigare och biinder den europeisha ekonomins uppsuing 600- 1200. Stockholm. central place in Sl

A CENTRAL PLACE AT STAFSINGE, HALLAND 75 Harrison, D. 1994. Etnicitet i historisk forskning. Aven Seiler, A. 1999. Om rum, mdnniskor och aristokratiska ett tidig-medel tida problem. Meta. miljiier. J?irnilderns bebyggelse och samhdlle belysta - 1997 .Offensiva och defensiva eliter- om det politiska utifrin nya resultat frin Tuna i Vendel. Befugelse' ijverskiktet under medeltid en. Historisk tids hrirt. historish tidshrirt 37. - 1999 . Krigarnas och helgonens tid Vristeuropas historia Skoglund, P 1992. Bijnderibrytningstid' Samhallsbygge 400-800 e.Kr. Ltnd. och kulturell ftiriindring iArstads och Faurls hdrader Hermanson, L. 1998. Shkt, vdnner och makt i det tidiga under tidig medeltid. C-uppsats i medeltidsarkeo-

1 1 00-talets Dan mark. Historish tidsshrifi (Danmarh) logi. Institutionen fiir medeltidsarkeologi, Lunds 98. universitet. Higham, N. J. 1994. The English Conquest. Gildas and Sdderberg, B. 1995. Gdrdstdnga. Boplats-och bebyggeke- Britain in thefifih century. Manchester, NewYork. Irimningar fdn stendlder till qtare tid. Arheologisha Riksan- Larsson, L. & Hlrdh, B. (eds.), Centalaplatser centrala for-, s lut- och fors hningsundersii hningar, fr,igor. Samhallsstrukturen under jiirndldern. En tikvariedmbetet UV Syd. 1995:7. F., Sbderberg, uhnbok till Berta Stjernquist. Uppikrastudier 1 . Acta - 2000. Vad lr en k

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