Scandinavian Culture in Medieval Poland

482 Pages·2013·76.001 MB·English

by  Sławomir Moździoch, Błażej Stanisławski, Przemysław Wiszewski (eds.)

Interdisciplinary Medieval Studies
v ii
oluMe
series editors:
S c
Sławomir Moździoch, Przemysław Wiszewski candinavian ulture
M P
in edieval oland
edited by
Sławomir Moździoch
Błażej Stanisławski
Przemysław Wiszewski
Centre for Late Antique and Early Medieval Studies
of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology
of the Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology
of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Institute of History at the University of Wroclaw Wrocław 2013
Interdisciplinary Medieval Studies
v ii
oluMe
series editors:
S c
Sławomir Moździoch, Przemysław Wiszewski candinavian ulture
M P
in edieval oland
edited by
Sławomir Moździoch
Błażej Stanisławski
Przemysław Wiszewski
Centre for Late Antique and Early Medieval Studies
of the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology
of the Polish Academy of Sciences Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology
of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Institute of History at the University of Wroclaw Wrocław 2013
Editors:
Sławomir Moździoch
Contents
Błażej Stanisławski
Przemysław Wiszewski
Technical Editor:
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Karol Moździoch
WŁADYSŁAW DUCZKO, With Vikings or without?
This volume has been reviewed by the Editorial Board of the Institute of Archaeology Scandinavians in early medieval Poland. Approaching
and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences. Members of the Editorial Board: an old problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
prof. Andrzej Janeczek, prof. Mirosława Drozd-Piasecka, prof. Dariusz Główka, PIOTR BOROŃ, Norsemen and the Polish territories in the early
Tomasz Herbich MA, prof. Andrzej Klonder, prof. Jolanta Kowalska, Middle Ages – theories, ideas and speculations . . . . . . . . . . 34
dr Małgorzata Mogielnicka, prof. Piotr Taracha JAKUB MORAWIEC, Slavs and their lands in Old Norse
literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
LESZEK P. SŁUPECKI, Polish rivers and waters in Old Norse
mythology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
PRZEMYSŁAW URBAŃCZYK, The eastern neighbours of the
Piasts in the 10th century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
MATEUSZ BOGUCKI, Before the Vikings. Foreigners
in the lower Vistula region during the Migration Period
and the origins of Truso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Editorial office: MAREK F. JAGODZIŃSKI, Roots of Truso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences WOJCIECH CHUDZIAK, Remarks on particular material traces
Centre for Late Antique and Early Medieval Studies of Scandinavian culture in Pomerania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Więzienna St. 6, 50-118 Wrocław, Poland FELIX BIERMANN, A Slavic or a Viking Town?
The excavations at Wolin 1934/41 and their contemporary
The cover motive of the book is a drawing of a fragment of a decoration at the reliquary interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
of St. Cordula – a lost masterpiece of the Mammen Style of Scandinavian art BŁAŻEJ STANISŁAWSKI, Norse culture in Wolin-Jómsborg . . . 193
from Kamień Pomorski. ANNA BOGUMIŁA KOWALSKA, Original or imitation?
Comments on the presence of the Scandinavians
© Copyright 2013 All Rights Reserved at the estuary of the Oder River in the Early Middle Ages . . . 247
All papers are copyright to their authors KINGA ZAMELSKA-MONCZAK, Traces of Viking culture
and Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences in Santok? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
and Institute of History University of Wrocław KRZYSZTOF JAWORSKI, EWA LISOWSKA,
ALEKSANDRA PANKIEWICZ, BŁAŻEJ STANISŁAWSKI,
Artefacts of Scandinavian origin from the Cathedral Island
ISBN 978-83-63760-04-5 (Ostrów Tumski) in Wrocław . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
5
Editors:
Sławomir Moździoch
Contents
Błażej Stanisławski
Przemysław Wiszewski
Technical Editor:
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Karol Moździoch
WŁADYSŁAW DUCZKO, With Vikings or without?
This volume has been reviewed by the Editorial Board of the Institute of Archaeology Scandinavians in early medieval Poland. Approaching
and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences. Members of the Editorial Board: an old problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
prof. Andrzej Janeczek, prof. Mirosława Drozd-Piasecka, prof. Dariusz Główka, PIOTR BOROŃ, Norsemen and the Polish territories in the early
Tomasz Herbich MA, prof. Andrzej Klonder, prof. Jolanta Kowalska, Middle Ages – theories, ideas and speculations . . . . . . . . . . 34
dr Małgorzata Mogielnicka, prof. Piotr Taracha JAKUB MORAWIEC, Slavs and their lands in Old Norse
literature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
LESZEK P. SŁUPECKI, Polish rivers and waters in Old Norse
mythology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
PRZEMYSŁAW URBAŃCZYK, The eastern neighbours of the
Piasts in the 10th century . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
MATEUSZ BOGUCKI, Before the Vikings. Foreigners
in the lower Vistula region during the Migration Period
and the origins of Truso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Editorial office: MAREK F. JAGODZIŃSKI, Roots of Truso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology of the Polish Academy of Sciences WOJCIECH CHUDZIAK, Remarks on particular material traces
Centre for Late Antique and Early Medieval Studies of Scandinavian culture in Pomerania . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Więzienna St. 6, 50-118 Wrocław, Poland FELIX BIERMANN, A Slavic or a Viking Town?
The excavations at Wolin 1934/41 and their contemporary
The cover motive of the book is a drawing of a fragment of a decoration at the reliquary interpretation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
of St. Cordula – a lost masterpiece of the Mammen Style of Scandinavian art BŁAŻEJ STANISŁAWSKI, Norse culture in Wolin-Jómsborg . . . 193
from Kamień Pomorski. ANNA BOGUMIŁA KOWALSKA, Original or imitation?
Comments on the presence of the Scandinavians
© Copyright 2013 All Rights Reserved at the estuary of the Oder River in the Early Middle Ages . . . 247
All papers are copyright to their authors KINGA ZAMELSKA-MONCZAK, Traces of Viking culture
and Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences in Santok? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 267
and Institute of History University of Wrocław KRZYSZTOF JAWORSKI, EWA LISOWSKA,
ALEKSANDRA PANKIEWICZ, BŁAŻEJ STANISŁAWSKI,
Artefacts of Scandinavian origin from the Cathedral Island
ISBN 978-83-63760-04-5 (Ostrów Tumski) in Wrocław . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279
5
MARIUSZ BŁOŃSKI, Antler sickle handle from Nasielsk.
An example of the Pomeranian school
of Scandinavian-Insular ornament from Mazovia . . . . . . . . 315
ZDZISŁAWA RATAJCZYK, The cemetery in Ciepłe – current
research results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
ANDRZEJ BUKO, MICHAŁ KARA,
WŁADYSŁAW DUCZKO, IWONA SOBKOWIAK-TABAKA,
Bodzia: a unique Viking age cemetery with chamber-like Preface
graves from central Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
LESZEK GARDEŁA, Dead or alive? – “Chamber graves”
and their inhabitants in the Old Norse literature
and Viking-age archaeology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
ANDRZEJ JANOWSKI, Are the chamber graves from Pień Vikings activities were an important element of the early medieval European
really Scandinavian? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395 cultural landscape. One of directions of the Scandinavian penetration was to the
JERZY SIKORA, Ethnos or ethos? Some remarks southern coast of the Baltic Sea, including the territory of today’s Poland.
on interpretation of early medieval elite burials The occurrence of Scandinavian culture elements in the Vistula, Oder and Warta
in northern Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411 River basins is one of the more controversial research issues in Polish medieval stud-
GEORGE INDRUSZEWSKI, Technological aspects of cultural ies. Initially the discussion was limited to historians. Their attention was focused pri-
identity: the case of early medieval shipbuilding marily on the study of a mysterious document, the Dagome iudex (P. Boroń in this
and seafaring in the Baltic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437 volume), and sometimes on the interpretation of written sources which derived mainly
MARCIN SZYDŁOWSKI, Possibility of identification from the Old Norse tradition (J. Morawiec, L. Słupecki in this volume). Archaeologi-
of Scandinavian presence on the Polish territory cal discoveries encouraged the representatives of this discipline to become increas-
in the light of petroarcheological research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 457 ingly more active in the aforementioned discussion (W. Duczko in this volume).
PAWEŁ KUCYPERA, PIOTR PUDŁO, The “Viking The discussion on the interpretation of the role played by the Norsemen in
Sword” – true or false? On the importance of a certain the territory of Poland during the Viking Age has taken place since at least the
terminological problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467 publication of Karol Szajnocha’s book Lechicki początek Polski (1858). It divided
the scientific community into two factions – pro-Norse and anti-Norse (P. Boroń,
P. Pranke in this volume). The first of them attributed a significant role to new-
comers from the North in the formation of our state (Szajnocha 1958; Wachowski
1914). Radical scholars even believed that the first historical ruler – Duke Miesz-
ko I was one of the newcomers. They maintained that he was a Danish chieftain
named Dago, known from the Dagome iudex register (Holtzmann 1918; Schulte
1918). The anti-Norse fraction in turn marginalized the Scandinavian influence
on the formation of the early Piast state and interpreted artefacts of Viking or-
igin, discovered in today’s Poland, only as traces of short-term trade relations
(Łowmiański 1957; Żak 1962; 1963; Labuda 1964).
Gradually some new concepts emerged concerning the interpretation of the
occurrence of elements of Scandinavian culture in Poland, and the role the Norse-
6
MARIUSZ BŁOŃSKI, Antler sickle handle from Nasielsk.
An example of the Pomeranian school
of Scandinavian-Insular ornament from Mazovia . . . . . . . . 315
ZDZISŁAWA RATAJCZYK, The cemetery in Ciepłe – current
research results . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 323
ANDRZEJ BUKO, MICHAŁ KARA,
WŁADYSŁAW DUCZKO, IWONA SOBKOWIAK-TABAKA,
Bodzia: a unique Viking age cemetery with chamber-like Preface
graves from central Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353
LESZEK GARDEŁA, Dead or alive? – “Chamber graves”
and their inhabitants in the Old Norse literature
and Viking-age archaeology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
ANDRZEJ JANOWSKI, Are the chamber graves from Pień Vikings activities were an important element of the early medieval European
really Scandinavian? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 395 cultural landscape. One of directions of the Scandinavian penetration was to the
JERZY SIKORA, Ethnos or ethos? Some remarks southern coast of the Baltic Sea, including the territory of today’s Poland.
on interpretation of early medieval elite burials The occurrence of Scandinavian culture elements in the Vistula, Oder and Warta
in northern Poland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 411 River basins is one of the more controversial research issues in Polish medieval stud-
GEORGE INDRUSZEWSKI, Technological aspects of cultural ies. Initially the discussion was limited to historians. Their attention was focused pri-
identity: the case of early medieval shipbuilding marily on the study of a mysterious document, the Dagome iudex (P. Boroń in this
and seafaring in the Baltic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 437 volume), and sometimes on the interpretation of written sources which derived mainly
MARCIN SZYDŁOWSKI, Possibility of identification from the Old Norse tradition (J. Morawiec, L. Słupecki in this volume). Archaeologi-
of Scandinavian presence on the Polish territory cal discoveries encouraged the representatives of this discipline to become increas-
in the light of petroarcheological research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 457 ingly more active in the aforementioned discussion (W. Duczko in this volume).
PAWEŁ KUCYPERA, PIOTR PUDŁO, The “Viking The discussion on the interpretation of the role played by the Norsemen in
Sword” – true or false? On the importance of a certain the territory of Poland during the Viking Age has taken place since at least the
terminological problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 467 publication of Karol Szajnocha’s book Lechicki początek Polski (1858). It divided
the scientific community into two factions – pro-Norse and anti-Norse (P. Boroń,
P. Pranke in this volume). The first of them attributed a significant role to new-
comers from the North in the formation of our state (Szajnocha 1958; Wachowski
1914). Radical scholars even believed that the first historical ruler – Duke Miesz-
ko I was one of the newcomers. They maintained that he was a Danish chieftain
named Dago, known from the Dagome iudex register (Holtzmann 1918; Schulte
1918). The anti-Norse fraction in turn marginalized the Scandinavian influence
on the formation of the early Piast state and interpreted artefacts of Viking or-
igin, discovered in today’s Poland, only as traces of short-term trade relations
(Łowmiański 1957; Żak 1962; 1963; Labuda 1964).
Gradually some new concepts emerged concerning the interpretation of the
occurrence of elements of Scandinavian culture in Poland, and the role the Norse-
6
PREFACE SCANDINAVIAN CULTURE
men might have played in the economic, cultural and political development of the of Pomerania belonged to the Baltic Sea economic zone, the essence of which
Vistula, Oder and Warta River basins’ inhabitants. was long-distance exchange, primarily focused on bulk commodities. It directly
According to L. Leciejewicz, Norse-Slavic contacts should be considered affected the economic and cultural features of the Baltic Sea zone centres. Cer-
in the broader context of economic and political relations and socio-cultural tain rules of economic behaviour also applied there. Greater Poland, Mazovia
conditions (2006a, 157). This scholar stated that there is no reason to deny the and Silesia were located only in the zone of influences of the Baltic Sea region
presence of Scandinavians in the Oder and Vistula basins in the 9th–11th cen- and this was mainly due to political reasons that were created by the early Piast
turies. In his opinion, the scale of this penetration was not comparable to Vi- centre. However, a different economic model known as ‘state husbandry’ oper-
king expeditions to the countries of Western or Eastern Europe and the Slavic- ated in this area (Łosiński 2008a; 2008b).
Scandinavian contacts were perhaps already initiated in the second half of the G.S. Lebedev stated that based on various contacts and economic ties as well
8th century (2006a, 159). as frequent military conflicts, the emergence of a distinct cultural province oc-
Finds of older artefacts, dated to the 6th–7th century, are most likely traces curred – the so-called Baltic cultural community, which included all populations
of Germanic groups’ migrations from the borders of the Byzantine Empire to the living in areas around the Baltic Sea (1982). The unification of cultures, according
north or as a result of short-term trade. On a broader scale trade relations were to this researcher, was based on the mutual adoption of patterns of life and culture
established in the 9th century and then only in the coastal zone. by communities who were different in ethnic terms, and this gradually became
More numerous traces of relations with Norsemen are dated to the second the common heritage of all the people involved in exchange within the Baltic Sea
half of the 10th century and occurred in inland areas. They appeared in the pe- economic zone, which also acquired the characteristics of a cultural community.
riod of the formation of the early Piast state. These contacts were limited, how- W. Duczko pointed out in turn that craft and trade settlements were a power-
ever, to trade and short-term political relations but they also resulted in further ful unifying force for their inhabitants (2007, 10). This scholar, however, did not
consequences for the spheres of religion and art (2006a, 159–160, 170). go as far as G.S. Lebedev.
L. Leciejewicz stressed the importance of ‘partnership’ in trade between the G.S. Lebedev’s concept did not convince W. Łosiński (2008a, 125–126, 135,
inhabitants of the northern and the southern Baltic coasts (2006a, 2006b). It was 141; 2008b, 144), who doubts that the Baltic cultural community was a real histor-
based on different economic systems and the availability of raw materials. ical entity. In his opinion, the point of acculturation was not exceeded. W. Łosiński
According to W. Łosiński (2008b), there were short-term political and mili- believes that individual ethnic communities preserved their identities. Everywhere
tary relations, dynastic connections and military expeditions in two directions – in the Baltic Sea area, however, the same rules and economic mechanisms were
both of the Vikings to the south and of the Slavs to the north. Economic contacts applied. In addition, there was rapprochement amongst these communities in
resulting from the functioning of the Baltic Sea economic zone had a special many spheres of production, everyday culture as well as on a social elite level.
impact on the relations between the two communities. Of great importance was The leading Polish medievalists: H. Łowmiański, G. Labuda, J. Żak, L. Lecie-
the exchange of mass commodities as well as the incidental changing hands of jewicz and W. Łosiński shared views on the question of the origin of the state. The
luxury goods. The result of all the aforementioned phenomena was the physi- earlier opinion, which assumed the creation of the state by foreign conquest (vio-
cal presence of Scandinavians in Polish territories – initially in the centre in the lence) – formulated by the pro Norse fraction, was replaced by the concept of inter-
lower Parsętą River area, and then at the end of the 10th century and the first nal development of the community by slow evolution, based on F. Engels’ doctrine.
half of the 11th century in Wolin. Based on weaponry discovered at the Dziwna L. Leciejewicz and W. Łosiński also made a significant breakthrough in
Strait W. Łosiński assumes the presence of Viking troops in the service of Slavs. existing views, and began to allow for the possibility of the physical pres-
In W. Łosiński’s opinion, in research on the presence of Scandinavian cul- ence of Scandinavians in Polish territories – mostly in the Baltic Sea coastal
ture elements in Poland, two regions should be distinguished – Pomerania and zone. The discovery made at the Parsęta River and especially the Scandina-
the lands located southwards from this area. He emphasizes significant differ- vian burials in the cemetery in Świelubie, artefacts’ assemblages from Wolin
ences between these regions, due to their very different economic systems, es- (B. Stanisławski in this volume) as well as the assemblage from Janów Pomor-
pecially regarding their participation in long-distance exchange. The inhabitants ski/Truso (Jagodziński 2010) contributed to the development of this view.
8 9