Tension and Tradition: A Study of Late Iron Age Spearheads Around the Baltic Sea

524 Pages·2003·124.67 MB·English

by  Kristina Creutz

Kristina Creutz
TENSION AND TRADITION
A study of Late Iron Age spearheads around the Baltic Sea
THESES AND PAPERS IN ARCHAEOLOGY N.S. A 8
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Tension and Tradition
Theses and Papers in Archaeology N.S. A 8.
Tension and Tradition
A study of Late Iron Age spearheads around the Baltic Sea
(Summaries in English, Estonian, Latvian, Swedish, Finnish and Russian)
Akademisk avhandling
som for avläggande av filosofie doktorsexamen vid
Stockholms Universitet
offentligen försvaras i hörsal D8, Södra Huset, Frescati
Onsdagen den 21 maj 2003, kl. 10.00
av
Kristina Creutz
Fil.kand.
Arkeologiska Institutionen
Stockholms Universitet Stockholm 2003
SE-106 91 STOCKHOLM ISBN 91-7265-635-2
Abstract
This thesis discusses spearheads and individuals in Estonia, Latvia, eastern Sweden, Finland and western
Russia during the 1 l'h century. The source material consists of 335 spearheads of type M according to the
typology of Petersen from 1919. As a complement, a limited number of historical, social anthropological
and ethnological sources have been used. All in all, the author has visited 20 museums around the Baltic
Sea during a period of tremendous political change, and she has taken advantage of the natural field of
tension which the different research environments have produced. Central questions are whether
individual weapon-smiths can be discerned in the archaeological material, the role of the weapon-smith in
the prehistoric society, and the possible role of Gotland in the weapons trade. Another important question
concerns the differences among the societies around the Baltic Sea. Did the societies really differ to the
extent that we tend to believe, or are our interpretations based on old ideas of culture-bringing and
nationalism?
The thesis contains a detailed analysis of the archaeological material. The importance of direct
contact between the researcher and the spearheads is stressed. Several individual weapon-smiths are
discerned. It is mainly the personal touch in their work that makes this possible, even though they
apparently used the same idea of a spearhead as their starting-point. The weapon-smiths seem to have
worked within certain smith-zones in all the studied countries, some larger and some smaller. This indicates
a local production, not trade as earlier believed. The author believes that the weapon-smith had a complex
role in the prehistoric society. Fie had a tacit, social and magical knowledge. Besides the weapon-smith, the
thesis discusses the silversmith who decorated the spearheads, the organizer of the production of the
spearheads, the user, the burial actor, the archaeologist and the conservator. In the final chapter the 11th-
century society is reconstructed and illustrated with the help of the Pöide area on Saaremaa in Estonia. The
reconstruction makes use of the field perspective and the concept of honour as described by Pierre
Bourdieu. Three individuals (the organizer, weapon-smith and user) with a totally different social capital
meet in this space. The study points towards a well-organized society where knowledge, raw material,
contacts, traditions, economic resources, and defence and attack politics constitute important elements. In
the author’s opinion it is time to see the region of the Baltic Sea in a new societal perspective.
Keywords: Late Iron Age, spearheads, Baltic Sea area, smith, silversmith, Ringerike style, Baltic Sea
grouping, experimental archaeology, ceremonial deposits, burial traditions, political impact, polarization,
essential tension, personal touch, tacit knowledge, field perspective, honour and social capital.
THESES AND PAPERS IN ARCHAEOLOGY N.S. A 8
Tension and Tradition
A study of Late Iron Age spearheads around the Baltic Sea
Kristina Creutz
go yy ^
Stockholm 2003
Doctoral thesis at Stockholm University 2003
Abstract
Creutz, Kristina 2003. Tension and Tradition. A study of Late Iron Age spearheads around the Baltic Sea. Theses and Papers in Ar­
chaeology N.S. A 8. Stockholm: Department of Archaeology, Stockholm University. 520 pp., 461 figs., 4 appendices. Summaries in
English, Estonian, Latvian, Swedish, Finnish and Russian. ISBN 91-7265-635-2.
This thesis discusses spearheads and individuals in Estonia, Latvia, eastern Sweden, Finland and western Russia during the 11th cen­
tury. The source material consists of 335 spearheads of type M according to the typology of Petersen from 1919. As a complement,
a limited number of historical, social anthropological and ethnological sources have been used. All in all, the author has visited 20
museums around the Baltic Sea during a period of tremendous political change, and she has taken advantage of the natural field of
tension which the different research environments have produced. Central questions are whether individual weapon-smiths can be
discerned in the archaeological material, the role of the weapon-smith in the prehistoric society, and the possible role of Gotland in
the weapons trade. Another important question concerns the differences among the societies around the Baltic Sea. Did the societies
really differ to the extent that we tend to believe, or are our interpretations based on old ideas of culture-bringing and nationalism?
The thesis contains a detailed analysis of the archaeological material. The importance of direct contact between the researcher
and the spearheads is stressed. Several individual weapon-smiths are discerned. It is mainly the personal touch in their work that
makes this possible, even though they apparently used the same idea of a spearhead as their starting-point. The weapon-smiths seem
to have worked within certain smith-zones in all the studied countries, some larger and some smaller. This indicates a local produc­
tion, not trade as earlier believed. The author believes that the weapon-smith had a complex role in the prehistoric society. He had a
tacit, social and magical knowledge. Besides the weapon-smith, the thesis discusses the silversmith who decorated the spearheads,
the organizer of the production of the spearheads, the user, the burial actor, the archaeologist and the conservator. In the final chapter
the 1 lth-century society is reconstructed and illustrated with the help of the Pöide area on Saaremaa in Estonia. The reconstruction
makes use of the field perspective and the concept of honour as described by Pierre Bourdieu. Three individuals (the organizer, wea­
pon-smith and user) with a totally different social capital meet in this space. The study points towards a well-organized society where
knowledge, raw material, contacts, traditions, economic resources, and defence and attack politics constitute important elements. In
the author’s opinion it is time to see the region of the Baltic Sea in a new societal perspective.
Keywords: Late Iron Age, spearheads, Baltic Sea area, smith, silversmith, Ringerike style, Baltic Sea grouping, experimental archae­
ology, ceremonial deposits, burial traditions, political impact, polarization, essential tension, personal touch, tacit knowledge, field
perspective, honour and social capital.
Front cover: The boy buried in grave 331 in the Laukskola cemetery, Salaspils Parish, Latvia. Reconstruction Anna Zaripa. Drawing
Edlte Krastenberga.
Back cover: The smith Rauno Lehtonen at work in his smithy, Vantaa, Finland. Photo Leena Tomanterä 1996.
Design: Minna Nousiainen
© the authors
ISSN 1100-6048
ISBN 91-7265-635-2
Published by the Department of Archaeology, Stockholm University, SE-106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
Editor: Ingmar Jansson
Gummerus Printing, Jyväskylä Finland 2003
Foreword
This thesis has involved a number of challenges in both from a linguistic perspective and for practical
many respects. Many of these challenges derive from and logistic reasons. My source material is physi­
the reliance on and importance of support and logis­ cally spread over 20 museums - all with different
tics. The process by which this thesis has come about systems. One thing I know for sure is that, without
can be compared to a team effort, where everyone in the support of colleagues around me, I would not
“my team” has had to join in and lend me knowledge have been able to accomplish my work. Here many
and expertise from a variety of fields. different persons come into the picture.
In many ways the background for the thesis was As I see it, I have had different pillars of sup­
defined when I set out to study at the University of port on which I could lean in the different countries.
Stockholm while continuing to live in neighbour­ Above all I want to mention my adviser Ingmar Jans­
ing Finland. Hoping that this would be possible, son, who has supported me through thick and thin.
I approached the university to find out whether an He represents without a doubt the tallest but also the
arrangement could be agreed upon. By a stroke of most stable pillar to lean on. I am extremely grate­
luck, I found a supporter in Elsie Dickson at the De­ ful to him and I have a deep respect for his endless
partment of History of Art, who expressed belief in knowledge.
my ambitions and was prepared to give me a chance Ylva Engström also represents an important
to start my studies at long distance. I thus turned to Swedish pillar. She was my discussion partner
my long-held interest in archaeology. throughout the work on the thesis. Gert Magnusson,
Like many things in life, my studies of the Baltic Åke Hyenstrand, Erik Norgren, Hubert Hydman, An­
region started by coincidence. When the Estonian ders Säfström, Ulf Strucke, Rune Palm, Sven-Olof
numismatist Arkadi Molvögin needed translation Lindquist, Nils Blomkvist (both CCC project), Don­
help in a Helsinki bank during the winter of 1988, I ald Broady and Åke Sandström have all contributed
happened to be nearby. One thing led to the next, and within their fields of knowledge, and they have made
suddenly we found ourselves talking about cross- it possible to significantly broaden the scope of my
border academic opportunities - and in the wink of study of spearheads. Erik Norgren has also re-drawn
an eye Arkadi Molvögin had persuaded me to study the drawings of the catalogue.
the Estonian silver hoards. In Estonia Ulle Tamla is another stable and ex­
Accordingly I travelled frequently to Tallinn, and tremely important pillar. I cannot even recall the
I retain many cherished memories of this period. At countless number of occasions when Ulle has helped
that stage it was impossible for me to assess the vast­ with various things such as ”carrying” boxes of spear­
ness of the changes that would eventually come with heads between countries, translating and examining
the independence of the region; neither did I have texts, etc. She also proved to be a patient listener and
any idea about that the present thesis would ever be an invaluable source of comments and support. I am
written. Already at this stage Ingmar Jansson and also very grateful for all the valuable metallurgic dis­
Ulle Tamla were important persons to me. cussions I had with Jiiri Peets in Estonia.
On this avenue, I remained. The next challenge Leena Tomanterä represents my main Finnish pil­
was to write a truly “Baltic Sea thesis” and to study lar. Leena helped with the X-raying and photograph­
the contacts during the Late Iron Age. ing of the source materials, etc. Leena has been a tre­
My working environment has often been tough, mendously valuable discussion partner on weaponry.
Further, we performed the experimental part of my
5
thesis together in collaboration with the Finnish All the staff at Latvijas Vestures muzejs and Lat-
smith Rauno Lehtonen, who also contributed to im­ vijas vestures institutes Latvia.
portant points in my thesis. Markku Ikäheimo made
a throwing experiment and helped me to understand SWEDEN
practical questions related to the size, weight and Anders Broberg, Göran Burenhult, Stieg Eldh, Johan
balance of the spearheads. Engström, Hans Gullman, Jan Peder Lamm, Gertrud
In Latvia I had two pillars: Guntis Zemitis and Nordberg, Martha Ortiz, Bo Petré, Marita Pilestad,
Märis Atgäzis, both of whom were equally impor­ Zuzana Polaskova, Ann Segerberg, Agneta Thor,
tant. Guntis Zemitis helped me with many practical Lena Thunmark-Nylén, Lena Thålin-Bergman, Kate
things during my studies in Latvia, in addition to Tronner, Mille Törnblom, Bo Zachrisson and Brita
translations. Märis Atgäzis has, with his incredible Åkerrén.
knowledge of weapons, ensured that I have seen as At this point I would also like to express my ap­
many spearheads as possible. Another important per­ preciations for the numerous ideas and impulses that
son in Latvia is Anna Zarina, who generously shared I have received during the course of the many post­
with me large parts of the material from Laukskola graduate seminars at Stockholm University. In parti­
- in the same way as Mati Mandel and Ain Lavi in cular I recall the comments from Gunnar Andersson,
Estonia showed me the materials from Maidla and Hans Bolin, Mats Burström, Anders Carlsson, Kers­
Raatvere. Also Irita Zeijere was very kind in sharing tin Cassel, Martin Rundkvist and Marie Svedin.
the Koknese material with me. Furthermore I recei­ All the staff at Statens Historiska Museum and
ved much valued guidance from Aleksis Anteins Riksantivarieämbetet.
with respect to metallurgical questions. All the staff of the museums at Gotlands Fomsal
In Russia I have had many different pillars who in Visby, Gävleborgs Läns Museum in Gävle, Närke
helped me to study the Russian material. They in­ Läns Museum in Örebro, Södermanlands Läns Mu­
clude Oleg I. Boguslavskij, Olga Davidan, Rafael S. seum in Nyköping, Västmanlands Läns Museum in
Minasjan, (St. Petersburg) and Veronika V. Muraseva Västerås and Museum Gustavianum (with UMF) in
(Moscow). Uppsala.
I am grateful to the translators and language edi­ STK Inter-test in Stockholm and Västerås.
tors Fedir Androshchuk, Anders Nordberg, Toomas All the staff at the libraries Vitterhetsakademiens
and Ulle Tamla, Hannu-Matti Wahl, Staffan Wahlén, Bibliotek in Stockholm, Carolina Rediviva, Arkeo­
Guntis Zemitis, and in particular to Laura Wrang who logibiblioteket and Språk och fomminnesinstitutets
corrected and improved my English in the thesis. bibliotek (SOFI) in Uppsala.
I have received financial help from the following
foundations: Berit Wallenbergs stiftelse, Greta Arwids- FINLAND
sons fond, Magn Bergvall’s stiftelse, Stiftelsen Pryt- Rauno Hilander, Pirkko-Liisa Lehtosalo-Hilander,
ziska fonden nr 1, Stiftelsen Wilhelm Ekman’s fond Tankmar Horn, Katja Nieminen, Päivi Pykälä-aho,
for bergshistorisk forskning and the Swedish Institute. Leena Ruonavaara, Leena Söyrinki-Harmo, Jussi-
I have also held a doctoral research position at the Pekka Taavistainen, Pirjo Uino and Hannu-Matti
University of Stockholm. I also want to thank Per-Erik Wahl.
Pilestad from the Mitutoyo Company who generously All the staff at Museovirato/Museiverket in
supported me with measurement equipment. Helsinki. All the staff at the libraries: Museoviras-
In addition I would like to thank the following ton kirjasto/Museiverkets bibliotek, Helsingin Yli-
persons and institutions: opiston kirjasto/Helsingfors Universitets bibliotek,
Helsingin yliopiston Humanistisen tiedekunnan
kirjasto Topelia - kulttuurien tutkimus ja historia/
ESTONIA
Helsingfors universitets Humanistiska fakultetens
Valter Lang, Priit Ligi, Heidi Luik, Heikki Pauts,
bibliotek Topelia - kulturforskning och historia,
Kiilliki Rikas, Juri Selirand, Kersti Siitan, Toomas
Helsingin yliopiston Kasvatustieteellisen tiedekun­
Tamla, Enn Tarvel and Evald Tönisson.
nan kirjasto/Helsingfors universitets Pedagogiska
All the staff at Ajaloo Instituut, Eesti Ajaloomuu-
fakultetens bibliotek and Suomalaisen kirjallisuuden
seum and Saaremaa Muuseum.
seuran kirjasto/Finska Litteratursällskapets bibliotek
all in Helsinki.
LATVIA
Jänis Asariz, Inära Baumane, Jänis Ciglis, Amis
RUSSIA
Rad ins, Robert Spirgis, Ingrida Virse and Dzintra
Aleksandr Saksa, Anatolij N. Kirpicnikov, Jurij M.
Zemlte.
6
Lesman, Sergej V. Beleckij, Kirill Michajlov (St. Pe­ I want to thank my family who have contributed
tersburg) and Sergej Ju. Kainov (Moscow). with many practical matters and not least patience:
All the staff at the State Hermitage, the Institute my husband Johan Creutz, my sons Fredrik Creutz
of the History and Material Culture of the Russian and Henrik Creutz as well as my father Lars Kem-
Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg and the State ner. I also want to thank my parents-in-law Nan and
Historical Museum in Moscow. Carl-Johan Creutz. Finally, and not least important I
have to mention my dog Jessica. Without her I would
DENMARK not have been able to transport my thesis, computer,
Ann Pedersen (Copenhagen) drawings and photos here and there. She guarded all
my important papers in the car while I was busy with
FRANCE the thesis elsewhere.
Louis Bonnamour (Chalon-sur-Saöne)
The staff at the libraries Mediatheque and Bibliot- My thanks go also to Gummerus Printing and Offset-
héque d’etudes in Nice. kopio Oy for good collaboration.
7