Strby Toftegrd (Hardcover)

Maja Kildetoft Schultz

/ ISBN 13: 9798888571491

Published by Casemate Publishers, 2024

Hardcover. Stroby Toftegard: Halls, Hierarchies and Social Dynamics in Late Iron Age and Viking Age Denmark presents and considers the archaeological material from the site of Stroby Toftegard in the eastern part of Zealand, Denmark, where comprehensive excavations took place between 1994 and 2013. The book seeks to qualify the interpretation of Farm 1 as the residence of a magnate from c. AD 650 to c. AD 1000 and of the whole settlement consisting of at least nine farm units as a magnate settlement. This is done by means of a detailed survey and analysis of buildings and features, structures, various groups of objects, and a discussion of the landscape, the social context and the creation of social hierarchies that the site fitted into while it was in use. Detailed analyses of pits, wells, a latrine, bone material, macrofossils, pollen, the sherds of glass vessels, sherds of windowpanes, beads, jewelry, tools and pottery all substantiate that Farm 1 was something extraordinary. Its inhabitants appear to have had better access to resources, been in charge of certain activities, had access to knowledge that was not available to everyone and, finally, to have been part of larger social and political networks. It is likewise argued that the rest of the settlement was home to the magnate's retinue in the form of, inter alia, mounted warriors. Stroby Toftegard's placement within the hierarchy of power in relation to the other known magnate localities is also discussed. The argument here is that there were close connections between Stroby Toftegard and the royal seat in Lejre, although the material simultaneously indicates that Stroby Toftegard was not quite on the same political level as Lejre. The interpretation of Stroby Toftegard is considered in relation to the surrounding landscape, place names and other archaeological evidence from excavations and metal-detector surveys. The last chapter is a concluding discussion of those elements within the archaeological material that justify interpreting the settlement at Stroby Toftegard as a magnate settlement, what such an interpretation entails and what questions it raises for future treatment of the archaeological material. AUTHORS: Anna Severine Beck is a researcher and curator at Museum Southeast Denmark. She was head of the excavations at Stroby Toftegard from 2011 to 2013 and her PhD had a point of departure considering elements of architecture and house biographies of the magnate settlement. Maja Kildetoft Schultz is an archaeologist and curator at Museum Southeast Denmark. Her research focuses on Viking Age and early medieval settlement archaeology, Viking Age ring fortresses and landscape archaeology. Jens Ulriksen is Head of the Centre for Viking Age Studies and Head of Research at Museum Southeast Denmark. He completed his PhD on 1st millennium AD landing sites in Denmark in 1997. His research covers a multitude of facets of the Germanic Iron Age, Viking Age, and early medieval Scandinavia. 312 colour plans, drawings, photos, 34 b/w Presents details of the remarkable structures and material culture of Str by Tofteg rd, Zealand, revealing it to be a high status, Viking period magnate farm settlement Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9798888571491

Synopsis:

Strøby Toftegård: Halls, Hierarchies and Social Dynamics in Late Iron Age and Viking Age Denmark presents and considers the archaeological material from the site of Strøby Toftegård in the eastern part of Zealand, Denmark, where comprehensive excavations took place between 1994 and 2013. The book seeks to qualify the interpretation of Farm 1 as the residence of a magnate from c. AD 650 to c. AD 1000 and of the whole settlement consisting of at least nine farm units as a magnate settlement. This is done by means of a detailed survey and analysis of buildings and features, structures, various groups of objects, and a discussion of the landscape, the social context and the creation of social hierarchies that the site fitted into while it was in use. Detailed analyses of pits, wells, a latrine, bone material, macrofossils, pollen, the sherds of glass vessels, sherds of windowpanes, beads, jewelry, tools and pottery all substantiate that Farm 1 was something extraordinary. Its inhabitants appear to have had better access to resources, been in charge of certain activities, had access to knowledge that was not available to everyone and, finally, to have been part of larger social and political networks. It is likewise argued that the rest of the settlement was home to the magnate’s retinue in the form of, inter alia, mounted warriors. Strøby Toftegård’s placement within the hierarchy of power in relation to the other known magnate localities is also discussed. The argument here is that there were close connections between Strøby Toftegård and the royal seat in Lejre, although the material simultaneously indicates that Strøby Toftegård was not quite on the same political level as Lejre. The interpretation of Strøby Toftegård is considered in relation to the surrounding landscape, place names and other archaeological evidence from excavations and metal-detector surveys. The last chapter is a concluding discussion of those elements within the archaeological material that justify interpreting the settlement at Strøby Toftegård as a magnate settlement, what such an interpretation entails and what questions it raises for future treatment of the archaeological material.

About the Author: Anna Severine Beck is a researcher and curator at Museum Southeast Denmark. She was head of the excavations at Str by Tofteg rd from 2011 to 2013 and her PhD had a point of departure considering elements of architecture and house biographies of the magnate settlement. Maja Kildetoft Schultz is an archaeologist and curator at Museum Southeast Denmark. Her research focuses on Viking Age and early medieval settlement archaeology, Viking Age ring fortresses and landscape archaeology. Jens Ulriksen is Head of the Centre for Viking Age Studies and Head of Research at Museum Southeast Denmark. He completed his PhD on 1st millennium AD landing sites in Denmark in 1997. His research covers a multitude of facets of the Germanic Iron Age, Viking Age, and early medieval Scandinavia.

Bibliographic Details

Title: Strby Toftegrd (Hardcover)
Publisher: Casemate Publishers
Publication Date: 2024
Binding: Hardcover
Condition: new