Forging History: Spade-Shaped Currency Bars, History and Identity in Central Norrland

In central Norrland a large number of spade-shaped currency bars have been recovered. Currency bars have been produced since the introduction of iron technology in the late pre-Roman Iron Age, which roughly coincides with the introduction of agriculture. It is suggested that the shape of the bars i...

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Main Author: Marta Lindeberg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Svenska Arkeologiska Samfundet 2010-12-01
Series:Current Swedish Archaeology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://193.10.12.85:443/csa/article/view/568
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author Marta Lindeberg
author_facet Marta Lindeberg
author_sort Marta Lindeberg
collection DOAJ
description In central Norrland a large number of spade-shaped currency bars have been recovered. Currency bars have been produced since the introduction of iron technology in the late pre-Roman Iron Age, which roughly coincides with the introduction of agriculture. It is suggested that the shape of the bars is referential to the socketed axe, due to the importance of the latter during this period of change. The currency bars were therefore associated with a mythical history and local identity. The youngest 14C-date shows that the bars became part of narratives that remained relevant throughout much of the Iron Age, up until the Viking Age.
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spelling doaj.art-5e90d344855442fca9ca1382a1d830a02023-03-24T02:26:10ZengSvenska Arkeologiska SamfundetCurrent Swedish Archaeology1102-73552002-39012010-12-0118110.37718/CSA.2010.13Forging History: Spade-Shaped Currency Bars, History and Identity in Central NorrlandMarta Lindeberg0Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University In central Norrland a large number of spade-shaped currency bars have been recovered. Currency bars have been produced since the introduction of iron technology in the late pre-Roman Iron Age, which roughly coincides with the introduction of agriculture. It is suggested that the shape of the bars is referential to the socketed axe, due to the importance of the latter during this period of change. The currency bars were therefore associated with a mythical history and local identity. The youngest 14C-date shows that the bars became part of narratives that remained relevant throughout much of the Iron Age, up until the Viking Age. https://193.10.12.85:443/csa/article/view/568socketed axemythical history
spellingShingle Marta Lindeberg
Forging History: Spade-Shaped Currency Bars, History and Identity in Central Norrland
Current Swedish Archaeology
socketed axe
mythical history
title Forging History: Spade-Shaped Currency Bars, History and Identity in Central Norrland
title_full Forging History: Spade-Shaped Currency Bars, History and Identity in Central Norrland
title_fullStr Forging History: Spade-Shaped Currency Bars, History and Identity in Central Norrland
title_full_unstemmed Forging History: Spade-Shaped Currency Bars, History and Identity in Central Norrland
title_short Forging History: Spade-Shaped Currency Bars, History and Identity in Central Norrland
title_sort forging history spade shaped currency bars history and identity in central norrland
topic socketed axe
mythical history
url https://193.10.12.85:443/csa/article/view/568
work_keys_str_mv AT martalindeberg forginghistoryspadeshapedcurrencybarshistoryandidentityincentralnorrland