Nordic Bronze Age

The Nordic Bronze Age (also Northern Bronze Age, or Scandinavian Bronze Age) is
a period of Scandinavian prehistory from c. 1700–500 BC. The Bronze Age culture of
this era succeeded the Nordic Stone Age culture (Late Neolithic) and was followed by
the Pre-Roman Iron Age. The archaeological legacy of the Nordic Bronze Age culture is
rich, but the ethnic and linguistic affinities of it are unknown, in the absence of written
sources. Some scholars also include sites in what is now Finland, Estonia, northern
Germany and Pomerania, as part of its cultural sphere.

Contents
Map of the Nordic Bronze Age
General characteristics
culture, c. 1200 BC
Sub-periodization
Climate
Religion and cult
Culture
See also
Notes
Bibliography

General characteristics
Settlement in the Scandinavian Bronze Age period consisted mainly of single farmsteads, with no towns or substantial villages
known - farmsteads usually consisted of a longhouse plus additional four-post built structures (helms) - longhouses were initially two
aisled, and after c.1300 BCE three aisled structure became normal. Evidence of multiple longhouses at a single site have been found,
but they are thought to date to different periods, rather than being of the same date. Settlements were geographically located on
higher ground, and tended to be concentrated near the sea. Also associated with settlements were burial mounds and cemeteries, with
interments including oak coffins and urn burials; other settlement associations include rock carvings, or bronze hoards in wetland
sites.[1]

Both agriculture (including wheat, millet, and barley) and keeping of domesticated animals (cattle, as well as sheep and pigs) were
practiced, and fishing and shellfish were also sources of food, as well as deer, elk, and other wild animal hunting. There is evidence
[1]
that Oxen were used as draught animals, domesticated dogs were common, horses were rarer and probably status symbols.

Even though Scandinavians joined the European Bronze Age cultures fairly late through trade, Scandinavian sites present a rich and
well-preserved legacy of bronze and gold objects. These valuable metals were all imported, primarily from Central Europe, but they
were often crafted locally and the craftsmanship and metallur
gy of the Nordic Bronze Age was of a high standard. The archaeological
legacy also comprise locally of crafted wool and wooden objects and there are many tumuli and rock carving sites from this period,
but no written language existed in the Nordic countries during the Bronze Age. The rock carvings have been dated through
comparison with depicted artifacts, for example bronze axes and swords. There are also numerous Nordic Stone Age rock carvings,
those of northern Scandinavia mostly portrayelk.

Thousands of rock carvings from this period depict ships, and the large stone burial monuments known as stone ships, suggest that
ships and seafaring played an important role in the culture at lar
ge. The depicted ships, most likely represents sewn plank builtcanoes
used for warfare, fishing and trade. These ship types may have their origin as far back as the neolithic period and they continue into
the Pre-Roman Iron Age, as exemplified by the Hjortspring boat.[2] 3,600-year old bronze axes and other tools made from Cypriot
copper have been found in the region[3]

Sub-periodization
Oscar Montelius, who coined the term used for the period, divided it into six distinct sub-periods in his piece Om tidsbestämning
inom bronsåldern med särskilt avseende på Skandinavien ("On Bronze Age dating with particular focus on Scandinavia") published
in 1885, which is still in wide use. His absolute chronology has held up well against radiocarbon dating, with the exception that the
period's start is closer to 1700 BC than 1800 BC, as Montelius suggested. For Central Europe a different system developed by Paul
Reinecke is commonly used, as each area has its own artifact types and archaeological periods.

A broader subdivision is the Early Bronze Age, between 1700 BC and 1100 BC, and the Late Bronze Age, 1100 BC to 550 BC.
These divisions and periods are followed by thePre-Roman Iron Age.

Climate
The Nordic Bronze Age was initially characterized by a warm climate that began with a climate change around 2700 BC. The climate
was comparable to that of present-day central Germany and northern France and permitted a relatively dense population and good
opportunities for farming; for example, grapes were grown in Scandinavia at this time. A minor change in climate occurred between
850 BC and 760 BC, introducing a wetter, colder climate and a more radical climate change beganaround 650 BC.[4]

Religion and cult

There is no coherent knowledge about Nordic Bronze Age cult
the Nordic Bronze Age religion; its
pantheon, world view and how it was
practised. Written sources are lacking,
but archaeological finds draw a vague
and fragmented picture of the religious
practices and the nature of the religion
of this period. Only some possible sects
and only certain possible tribes are
known. Some of the best clues come Boat and sun symbols. Men with weapons. Sun wagon. Petroglyph
from tumuli, elaborate artifacts, votive Madsesbakke at Tanumshede, western depiction from Tanum,
offerings and rock carvings scattered Bornholm, Denmark. Sweden. Sweden.
across Northern Europe.

Many finds indicate a strong sun-

worshipping cult in the Nordic Bronze
Age and various animals have been
associated with the sun's movement
across the sky, including horses, birds,
snakes and marine creatures (see also
Sól). A female or mother goddess is
also believed to have been widely
worshipped (see Nerthus). Hieros
gamos rites may have been common
and there have been several finds of
fertility symbols. A pair of twin gods
are believed to have been worshipped,
and is reflected in a duality in all things
sacred: where sacrificial artifacts have
been buried they are often found in Sun cult artifacts. The Ritualistic lur horns in Ceremonial helmets.
pairs. Sacrifices (animals, weapons, Trundholm sun chariot, bronze. Brudevælte, Veksø, Denmark.
jewellery and humans) often had a Denmark. Denmark.
strong connection to bodies of water.
Boglands, ponds, streams or lakes were
often used as ceremonial and holy
places for sacrifices and many artifacts
have been found in such locations.
Ritual instruments such as bronze lurs
have been uncovered, especially in the
region of Denmark and western
Sweden. Lur horns are also depicted in
several rock carvings and are believed Burial mounds. Mound burials with oak Stone ship monuments.
to have been used in ceremonies. Gårdstånga, Skåne, coffins. Borum Eshøj Gotland in Sweden.
Sweden. Man, in Borum,
Remnants of the Bronze Age religion
Denmark.
and mythology are believed to exist in
Germanic mythology and Norse
mythology; e.g., Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi and Nerthus, and it is believed to itself be descended from an older Indo-European proto-
religion.

Culture
Nordic Bronze Age culture

Hunting scenes. Agriculture. Ploughing Boats and sun symbols. Metallurgy and tool
Reindeer, hunters and with bulls. Petroglyph Bardal Rock carvings, making. Bronze saw
fishing boats. Alta in depiction from Tanum, Steinkjer, Norway. mold, Sweden.
Norway. Sweden.
 Wool clothing. Trindhøj Bronze combs. Gotland, Bronze razor knife for Bronze swords. Rørby,
man, Denmark. Sweden. shaving. Scania, Denmark.
Sweden.

See also
Bronze Age Europe
Bronze Age sword
Egtved Girl
The King's Grave
Stone ships
Tanumshede
Pomeranian culture

Notes
1. Thrane, Henrik, Peregrine, Peter N.; Ember, Melvin, eds., "Scandinavian Bronze Age",Encyclopedia of Prehistory, 4
(Europe), pp. 299–314
2. Ling 2008. Elevated Rock Art. GOTARC Serie B. Gothenburg Archaeological Thesis 49. Department of Archaeology
and Ancient History, University of Gothenburg, Goumlteborg, 2008. ISBN 978-91-85245-34-5.
3. Template:Https://www.realmofhistory.com/2016/05/17/cypriot-copper-axes-bronze-age-sweden/
.
4. Kane, Njord (1 November 2016).The Viking Stone Age: Birth of the Ax Culture. Spangenhelm Publishing.
|access-date= requires |url= (help)

Bibliography
Dabrowski, J. (1989) Nordische Kreis un Kulturen Polnischer Gebiete.Die Bronzezeit im Ostseegebiet. Ein Rapport
der Kgl. Schwedischen Akademie der Literatur Geschichte und Alter unt Altertumsforschung über das Julita-
Symposium 1986. Ed Ambrosiani, B. Kungl. Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien. Konferenser 22.
Stockholm.
Davidson, H. R. Ellis and Gelling, Peter:The Chariot of the Sun and other Rites and Symbols of the Northern
European Bronze Age.
K. Demakopoulou (ed.),Gods and Heroes of the European Bronze Age , published on the occasion of the exhibition
"Gods and Heroes of the Bronze Age. Europe at the iTme of Ulysses", from December 19, 1998, to April 5, 1999, at
the National Museum of Denmark, Copenhagen, London (1999),ISBN 0-500-01915-0.
Demougeot, E. La formation de l'Europe et les invasions barbares , Paris: Editions Montaigne, 1969-1974.
Kaliff, Anders. 2001. Gothic Connections. Contacts between eastern Scandinavia and the southern Baltic coast 1000
BC – 500 AD.
Montelius, Oscar, 1885. Om tidsbestämning inom bronsåldern med särskilt avseende på Skandinavien .
Musset, L. Les invasions: les vagues germanique, Paris: Presses universitaires de France, 1965.

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