The Oxford Handbook of Scandinavian Archaeology to 1050 CE

Scandinavia is a multiethnic zone of cultural contact on Europe's northwestern margins. This fact, when considered in the context of the region’s very diverse environmental conditions, has established Scandinavia as an exceptional anthropological and historical laboratory for the study of general issues in human history. Indeed, Scandinavian archaeology was a pioneer in and remains a force in scientific archaeology. This is naturally a function of the region's rich prehistory and archaeological record, characterised by iconic sites and monuments, finds, and artefacts. The creation of a platform for exploring the past is linked to strong public support for the creation of exceptional museums, strong heritage legislation and management organisations, and dedicated academic institutions and training programmes. At an early stage, prehistoric archaeology instituted multidisciplinary practices, collaborating with the ecological and natural sciences, as well as anthropological and historical disciplines. The chapters that make up The Oxford Handbook of Scandinavian Archaeology to 1050 CE are written by a range of contemporary Scandinavian and international experts and explore the region's prehistory and archaeological practices. Authors have been selected not only for their expertise in the subject matter, but also to demonstrate the variability in theoretical and methodological approaches found in contemporary Scandinavian archaeology. The 83 chapters endeavour to present an up-to-date and comprehensive prehistory of the region from the Palaeolithic to the Viking Age, as well as discussion of the discipline's history and institutions, the region’s diverse environmental conditions, important elements of interdisciplinary collaboration, and significant themes of research. Focusing on Norway, Sweden and Denmark, the book also contains chapters from Finland and the eastern Baltic, Iceland and Anglo-Saxon Ireland, Scotland, and Ireland. The Handbook provides a detailed, holistic overview of this astonishingly diverse field, and its chapters will be required reading for anyone interested in the history and heritage of the Nordic countries.