Humans and materiality
This research group focuses on past human materiality to gain insight into, and develop knowledge about our past.
Main content
The group will contribute to the discussions, research, and dissemination of studies investigating the human past through available material traces from human interaction with their environment.
Humans, by utilizing and engaging with their natural surroundings, shape their environment and are shaped by it in turn. They are in constant interaction with their physical surroundings and engage all their senses doing so. Studying our ancestors’ use of and interaction with their physical environment allows us to learn something about their past activities.
Since the majority of human ancestry takes place in prehistory, the only way for us to learn about the past is through analysis of material traces resulting from past human activities. It is therefore not possible to understand human prehistory or history without taking past human surroundings and materiality into consideration. Throughout our past, human-environment interactions resulted in the creation of material culture. However, in some cases mere focus on humans is not sufficient for a successful interpretation of past human activity, rather humans may be understood as a connective tissue.
This research group focuses on past human materiality to gain insight into, and develop knowledge about our past. The group will contribute to the discussions, research, and dissemination of studies investigating the human past through available material traces from human interaction with their environment. The group will provide a forum for work-in-progress seminars and the development of ideas as well as possible theoretical and methodical applications. Most importantly, it will provide a venue for students and staff to discuss their relevant work and ideas, regardless of geographical location or time period.
Programme autumn 2024
| 6 Sept. 12.30–14.00 | End of PhD seminar Solveig Chaudesaigues Clausen Opponent: Anders Högberg, Linnaeus University Title of PhD dissertation: Osseous artefacts of the Ertebølle and Funnel Beaker culture in southern Scandinavia (5400–2600 cal BC) – Technology, traditions, and the Neolithisation process | |
27 Sept | Guest lecture: Marko Marila, Linköping University: From bedrock to deadrock: Heritages of Finnish anti-nuclear and anti-uranium mining activism The effects of nuclear power production and uranium mining can be seen and felt in the Finnish landscape, but so can the heritages of their opposition. In this talk, I present three cases from the history of Finnish anti-nuclear power and anti-uranium mining activism and discuss the nature and relevance of their archaeological heritage. Such heritage consists mainly of rock art and rocky memorials which, as durable tokens of nuclear heritage, continue to record and communicate the contradictions and ambiguities of nuclearity far into the future. Held in conjunction with Arkeologisk Forskningsseminar and streamed on YouTube. 
Photo:
Maro Marila
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| 25 Oktober 14.15–15.45 | Guest lecture: Marte Spangen, University of Oslo: Varangermøter. Om transkulturell utveksling i middelalderens Nord-Fennoskandia The Far North is often viewed as desolate and peripheral, but in the Middle Ages and early modern period, northern Fennoscandia was an important resource area that surrounding powers competed to exploit and dominate. The resources were particularly extracted through trade with and taxation of Saami groups. This has been discussed in previous research on an overall level, but how did the interaction between Saami, Karelian, Russian, Birkarl, Kven, Norwegian and other parties happen in practice? Where in the landscape did they meet, and who decided the setting for these meetings? What did this have to say for the power relations, identity, and world views of the different groups? We explore this focusing on the older Varanger market, which colleagues and I localized in 2022 using a range of various sources and a fieldwork including metal detecting. The lecture is in Norwegian, but with slides in English. Held in conjunction with Arkeologisk Forskningsseminar and streamed on YouTube. | |
| 1 Nov time tbc | Guest lecture: Michael Blömer, University of Münster: The Doliche excavations Lecture held in co-operation with the research group Antiquity and the Classical tradition. | |
14.15–15.45 |
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| 6 December 14.15–15.45 | Guest lecture: Sigmund Oehrl, UiS: Gotlandic Picture Stones: The Online Edition. Background, status and aim of the Ancient Images 2.0 digitization project The Gotlandic picture stones are iconic. They are among the internationally most famous historical monuments from Sweden. These exceptional memorial stones, conventionally dated to about AD 400-1100, are covered with images of humans, animals, monsters, carriages, ships, and geometrical figures. They are a unique source for studies of male and female dress, weapons, riding techniques, wagons and ships as well as Old Norse myths and early Christianity. In this lecture, Sigmund Oehrl, professor for archaeology at the University of Stavanger and until recently researcher at Stockholm University, will explain the problems of documenting Gotlandic picture stones, the research-historical background and new digital approaches that have led to the digitisation project »Ancient Images 2.0«, which was initiated in 2019 and is funded by the Swedish Research Council until 2024. The aim of the project is to create an interactive digital edition of the material. The edition will be based on a new inventory, new research, a collection of archival material, and a digital documentation of all picture stones known to date. The digital documentation (3D modelling) is based on advanced photogrammetry. The digital edition of all picture stones, which is still in progress but will soon go online, will forever change the basis for any research on these unique historical monuments. Besides, the digital documentation will preserve fundamental knowledge of these vulnerable monuments and will provide means for their future preservation. As a side project and in addition to “Ancient Images 2.0”, the speaker also deals with the afterlife of the picture stones in the Middle Ages and their reuse as building material in the Gotlandic rural churches. This research project, funded by the Swedish Wallenberg Foundation, will also be presented.
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