Kristin Armstrong Oma
University of Stavanger, Achaeological Museum, Faculty Member
Extraordinary objects, things that convey collective narratives as well as a record of conservation evoke extraordinary feelings. Both the physical characteristics of the objects and the myths surrounding them may increase their meaning,... more
Extraordinary objects, things that convey collective narratives as well as a record of conservation evoke extraordinary feelings. Both the physical characteristics of the objects and the myths surrounding them may increase their meaning, lending them an inherent power. The design, language of form, as well as the materials used are essential elements in creating the objects’ charisma and in forming the stories that are told about them. The present volume explores the concept of charismatic objects and their material world through nine papers focusing on historical examples dating from the Roman Period to the late Middle Ages.
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What happens to the understanding of past societies when animals are perceived as sentient beings, and we recognize the agentive powers and potential of animals to impact human lives and shape prehistoric societies? Utilizing new... more
What happens to the understanding of past societies when animals are perceived as sentient beings, and we recognize the agentive powers and potential of animals to impact human lives and shape prehistoric societies? Utilizing new research, both within Human-Animal Studies and natural sciences, animals are considered as themselves—not as props, tools or consumables for human societies—but instead focuses upon their agential potential.
Using this perspective, this book outlines a novel solution to a longstanding puzzle in settlement archaeology: the transition from two-aisled to three-aisled houses in the Early Bronze Age Norway (c. 1500 BCE). At this time, landscape changes in Rogaland, southwestern Norway, are consistent with socio-economic changes in subsistence strategies, with wooded landscapes cleared to make space for flocks of grazing animals. At the same time, architectural changes from the traditional two-aisled longhouses (a way of building that had stood its ground for hundreds of years) to three-aisled longhouses suggest this change was to make room for animals inside the house, and that animals became household members.
The animals that entered the household of the three-aisled houses in the Bronze Age—sheep and dogs—are considered according to their particular requirements to function well in a close partnership with humans. How humans meet these requirements is a decisive factor for how animals choose to act towards humans, whether they choose to cooperate or to “act back.” This breaks up the human versus animal discourse, and introduces various types of agents into the household arena. It demonstrates how important it is to study different species as themselves, and recognize their species specific preconditions in order to understand how humans and various animals mutually impacted their shared life-world.
Using this perspective, this book outlines a novel solution to a longstanding puzzle in settlement archaeology: the transition from two-aisled to three-aisled houses in the Early Bronze Age Norway (c. 1500 BCE). At this time, landscape changes in Rogaland, southwestern Norway, are consistent with socio-economic changes in subsistence strategies, with wooded landscapes cleared to make space for flocks of grazing animals. At the same time, architectural changes from the traditional two-aisled longhouses (a way of building that had stood its ground for hundreds of years) to three-aisled longhouses suggest this change was to make room for animals inside the house, and that animals became household members.
The animals that entered the household of the three-aisled houses in the Bronze Age—sheep and dogs—are considered according to their particular requirements to function well in a close partnership with humans. How humans meet these requirements is a decisive factor for how animals choose to act towards humans, whether they choose to cooperate or to “act back.” This breaks up the human versus animal discourse, and introduces various types of agents into the household arena. It demonstrates how important it is to study different species as themselves, and recognize their species specific preconditions in order to understand how humans and various animals mutually impacted their shared life-world.
Research Interests:
"The Farm as a Social Arena” focusses on the social life of farms from prehistory until c. 1700 AD, based mainly, but not exclusively, on archaeological sources. All over Europe people have lived on farms, at least from the Bronze Age... more
"The Farm as a Social Arena” focusses on the social life of farms from prehistory until c. 1700 AD, based mainly, but not exclusively, on archaeological sources. All over Europe people have lived on farms, at least from the Bronze Age onwards. The papers presented here discuss farms in Norway, Sweden, Iceland and Germany. Whether isolated or in hamlets or villages, farms have been important elements of the social structure for thousands of years. Farms were workplace and home for their inhabitants, women, men and children, and perhaps extended families – frequently sharing their space with domestic animals. Sometimes important events such as feasts, religious services and funerals also took place here. The household thus became a multi-faceted arena, which brought together a variety of community members that both shaped – and were shaped by – its social dynamics. At times work and other activities defined by the social arena that was the farm even affected long-term developments of society as such.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
«[...] that tree, of which nobody knows where its roots run.» Religion in the pre-Christian era. The poem Håvamål describes how the world tree, Yggdrasil, has three roots and their place of origin is unknown. Their unknown origin is in... more
«[...] that tree, of which nobody knows where its roots run.» Religion in the pre-Christian era.
The poem Håvamål describes how the world tree, Yggdrasil, has three roots and their place of origin is unknown. Their unknown origin is in accordance with our knowledge of the deep roots of pagan religion in Scandinavia. This article seeks to understand the development from prehistoric pagan religion in Scandinavia until the advent of Christianity, especially with regard to its implications for the development of ontological status for humans and animals. I draw upon Norwegian archaeological material and written sources to explore first the pagan religion, and second the transition between it and Christianity. Pagan religion changed through the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, and was not a uniform phenomenon.
It is, however, argued that there are some common themes in these pagan religious practices that came to an end with the onset of Christianity. Studying arenas of conflict between the Norse pagan religion and Christianity help us to identify such themes. I suggest that among these we find the ontological status of animals, as well as of gender configurations and their transgressions in relation to the pagan Gods.
The poem Håvamål describes how the world tree, Yggdrasil, has three roots and their place of origin is unknown. Their unknown origin is in accordance with our knowledge of the deep roots of pagan religion in Scandinavia. This article seeks to understand the development from prehistoric pagan religion in Scandinavia until the advent of Christianity, especially with regard to its implications for the development of ontological status for humans and animals. I draw upon Norwegian archaeological material and written sources to explore first the pagan religion, and second the transition between it and Christianity. Pagan religion changed through the Stone Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, and was not a uniform phenomenon.
It is, however, argued that there are some common themes in these pagan religious practices that came to an end with the onset of Christianity. Studying arenas of conflict between the Norse pagan religion and Christianity help us to identify such themes. I suggest that among these we find the ontological status of animals, as well as of gender configurations and their transgressions in relation to the pagan Gods.
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
The 14 articles presented in this publication represent some of the latest and most relevant research on rural settlement and farming from the Late Neolithic through the Early Medieval Period in Norway. It deals with the impact of climate... more
The 14 articles presented in this publication represent some of the latest and most relevant research on rural settlement and farming from the Late Neolithic through the Early Medieval Period in Norway. It deals with the impact of climate change, plague and the AD 536-7 volcanic event and some of the earliest farms north of the Arctic Circle. It provides new perspectives and archaeological evidence for the Viking age farm of Norway, differences in regional settlement structures of agrarian societies, the relation between houses and graves in the Iron Age, and varying food practices as indicators of societal change.
The publication is part of the Joint Research Program (Forskning i fellesskap) conducted by the University Museums of Norway and co-funded by The Research Council of Norway.
The publication is part of the Joint Research Program (Forskning i fellesskap) conducted by the University Museums of Norway and co-funded by The Research Council of Norway.