Northern Emporium Vol 2: Vol. 2 The networks of Viking-age Ribe

Early urban societies transformed social networks, and Northern Europes emporia, such as Ribe, Denmark, were no exception. The Northern Emporium research project and high-definition excavations in 2017-18 revealed a remarkable range of finds from the eighth and ninth centuries AD, including pottery, stone, shell, glass, metals, amber, leather, wood, textile, bone, and antler. The book focuses on assembling Ribes early urban network and analyzing finds and their context to develop a picture of social roles and interactions between residents and visitors in the emporium. It also traces the flows of glass vessels, pottery, wine barrels, iron, stone, and animal products from North and Central Scandinavia, beads, and coins from the Middle East and the Indian Ocean into northern Europes new maritime frontier.

Format: Hardback
Length: 423 pages
Publication date: 15 August 2024
Publisher: Jysk Arkaeologisk Selskab

Early urban societies played a significant role in transforming social networks, and this was particularly evident in the case of Northern Europe's emporia, which were maritime trading towns that emerged around the North and Baltic Seas during the Viking Age. The pace and scope of this change are often remarkable, as evidenced by the archaeology of Ribe, Denmark. This second and final volume of the Northern Emporium research project presents the results of high-definition excavations conducted in 2017-18 in Ribe. The 21 chapters explore the diverse range of finds retrieved from this hub of the North Sea world in the eighth and ninth centuries AD, including artifacts made from pottery, stone, shell, glass, metals, amber, leather, wood, textile, bone, and antler. These finds provide detailed insights into various aspects of life in the emporium, such as the assemblages from glass bead or comb-making workshops, rare finds such as wooden furnishings and musical instruments, and the connections that were created with other worlds. The book focuses on assembling Ribe's early urban network by analyzing the finds and their context. Through this analysis, we gain a better understanding of the social roles and interactions between residents and visitors in the emporium, as well as the flows of glass vessels, pottery, wine barrels, iron, stone, animal products, beads, and coins that traveled from various regions. The findings shed light on the complex web of connections that existed during this period and provide valuable insights into the development of early urban societies.

Dimension: 300 x 220 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9788793423824