Northern archaeology and cosmology : a relational view / Vesa-Pekka Herva, and Antti Lahelma.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Herva, Vesa-Pekka, author.

Lahelma, Antti, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Excavations (Archaeology)--Europe, Northern.

Excavations (Archaeology).

Excavations (Archaeology)--Arctic regions.

Folklore.

Mythology.

Europe, Northern--Antiquities.

Europe, Northern.

Northern Europe.

Antiquities.

Arctic regions--Antiquities.

Arctic regions.

Arctic Regions.

Europe, Northern--Mythology.

Arctic regions--Mythology.

Folklore--Europe, Northern.

Folklore--Arctic regions.

Physical Description:

ix, 201 pages : illustrations, maps ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Routledge, an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, 2020.

Summary:

"In its analysis of the archaeologies and histories of the northern fringe of Europe, this book provides a focus on animistic-shamanistic cosmologies and the associated human-environment relations from the Neolithic to modern times. The North has fascinated Europeans throughout history, as an enchanted world of natural and supernatural marvels: a land of light and dark, of northern lights and the midnight sun, of witches and magic, and of riches ranging from amber to oil. Northern lands conflate fantasies and realities. Rich archaeological, historical, ethnographic and folkloric materials combine in this book with cutting-edge theoretical perspectives drawn from relational ontologies and epistemologies, producing a fresh approach on the prehistory and history of a region that is pivotal to understanding Europe-wide processes, such as Neolithization and modernization. This book examines the mythical and actual northern worlds, with northern relational modes of perceiving and engaging with the world on the one hand and the 'place' of the North in European culture on the other. This book is an indispensable read for scholars of anthropology and folklore in northern Europe, as well as those with an interest in the political and geographical conflicts that can occur in this region. It provides a deep-time understanding of globally topical issues and conflicting interests, as expressed by debates and controversies around Arctic resources, nature preservation, and indigenous rights"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Introduction : northern exposure

Stone-worlds

Houses, land and soil

Forests and hunting

Coastal landscapes and the sea

Boats and waterways

River mouths and central places

Birds and cosmology

The sun, light and fire

Epilogue

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

ebook version :

ISBN:

9781138358980

1138358983

9781138359017

1138359017

OCLC:

1081432361