Articles: Adoranten 2004
Dobbeltkønnetheden i bronzealderens symbolverden. By Berit Johnsen
Nordeuropa var i bronzealderen et bonde¬samfund. Det var samtidig et samfund med livlig handel og et samfund præget af magt¬fulde ledere, men overlevelsen var først og fremmest afhængig af landbruget, og af at høsten kom i hus.
Det er en nærliggende tanke, at kulten i høj grad har drejet sig om at sikre overlevelsen, og at den altså har været koncentreret om at få afgrøderne til at gro og om frugtbarhed i det hele taget.
Det er god gammeldags materialistisk tænkning, at den måde, man producerer på, betyder alverden for den måde, man opfatter verden på og altså også for de re¬ligiøse forestillinger. Så når bønder opfatter jorden som kvindelig og solen, regn og lyn som mandlige, hænger det netop sammen med måden, man skaffer sig føden på. For bonden har jorden været den livgivende og derfor kvindelig.
I en fanger- og jægerkultur som den grøn¬landske har synet på verden været grundlæg¬gende anderledes, og solen opfattes f.eks. her som kvindelig.
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Nordeuropa var i bronzealderen et bonde¬samfund. Det var samtidig et samfund med livlig handel og et samfund præget af magt¬fulde ledere, men overlevelsen var først og fremmest afhængig af landbruget, og af at høsten kom i hus.Det er en nærliggende tanke, at kulten i høj grad har drejet sig om at sikre overlevelsen, og at den altså har været koncentreret om at få afgrøderne til at gro og om frugtbarhed i det hele taget.
Det er god gammeldags materialistisk tænkning, at den måde, man producerer på, betyder alverden for den måde, man opfatter verden på og altså også for de re¬ligiøse forestillinger. Så når bønder opfatter jorden som kvindelig og solen, regn og lyn som mandlige, hænger det netop sammen med måden, man skaffer sig føden på. For bonden har jorden været den livgivende og derfor kvindelig.
I en fanger- og jægerkultur som den grøn¬landske har synet på verden været grundlæg¬gende anderledes, og solen opfattes f.eks. her som kvindelig.
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Feste am heiligen Berg. By Anneliese Peschlow-Bindokat
Das im Hinterland von Milet am Ufer des Bafa-Sees gelegene Latmos-Gebirge war einer der heiligen Berge Kleinasiens. Ursprünglich lag dieses Gebirge direkt an der Küste des tief in das Land eingreifenden latmischen Meeresgolfes. Durch die Schwemmmassen des Mäander wurde der rückwärtige Teil des Golfes jedoch bereits in der Antike vom Meer abgeschnitten und in einen Binnensee umgewandelt.
Der knapp 1400 m hohe Gipfel des Latmos war Stätte eines uralten Stein- und Regen- und damit Fruchtbarkeitskultes, eine Tra¬dition, die sich von prähistorischer Zeit bis ins Mittelalter hielt. Hier wurde wie auch in anderen Bergregionen Kleinasiens der anatolische Wettergott in Gemeinschaft mit einem einheimischen Berggott verehrt. An die Stelle dieser beiden Gottheiten traten im Latmos später Zeus Akraios und Endymion, der Geliebte der Mondgöttin Selene.
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Das im Hinterland von Milet am Ufer des Bafa-Sees gelegene Latmos-Gebirge war einer der heiligen Berge Kleinasiens. Ursprünglich lag dieses Gebirge direkt an der Küste des tief in das Land eingreifenden latmischen Meeresgolfes. Durch die Schwemmmassen des Mäander wurde der rückwärtige Teil des Golfes jedoch bereits in der Antike vom Meer abgeschnitten und in einen Binnensee umgewandelt.Der knapp 1400 m hohe Gipfel des Latmos war Stätte eines uralten Stein- und Regen- und damit Fruchtbarkeitskultes, eine Tra¬dition, die sich von prähistorischer Zeit bis ins Mittelalter hielt. Hier wurde wie auch in anderen Bergregionen Kleinasiens der anatolische Wettergott in Gemeinschaft mit einem einheimischen Berggott verehrt. An die Stelle dieser beiden Gottheiten traten im Latmos später Zeus Akraios und Endymion, der Geliebte der Mondgöttin Selene.
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Glösa – Transfiguring Rock Art. By Karl-Johan Olofsson
In the summer of 2003 I and my colleagues from the Archaeology Department at Jämtlands läns museum spent a few pleas¬ant weeks doing recording work at Glösa, Alsen.
The items being recorded were the famous rock carvings at Glösabäcken, and the work was a small part of the large inter-Nordic RANE–project (Rock Art in Northern Europe). As we lay there and worked on the rocks there was one question that kept on coming back to us: What do the figures really depict? The majority of those who have come into contact with these carvings in recent years have, in one way or another, had previous knowledge of the elks at Glösa. What was a little strange was that the more time we spent at the rock carvings, the more difficult it was to see them as elks. All of us working with the recording had visited Glösa before, but with activities of this type one works close to the figures for a long period of time; the figures were literally right under our noses.
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In the summer of 2003 I and my colleagues from the Archaeology Department at Jämtlands läns museum spent a few pleas¬ant weeks doing recording work at Glösa, Alsen.The items being recorded were the famous rock carvings at Glösabäcken, and the work was a small part of the large inter-Nordic RANE–project (Rock Art in Northern Europe). As we lay there and worked on the rocks there was one question that kept on coming back to us: What do the figures really depict? The majority of those who have come into contact with these carvings in recent years have, in one way or another, had previous knowledge of the elks at Glösa. What was a little strange was that the more time we spent at the rock carvings, the more difficult it was to see them as elks. All of us working with the recording had visited Glösa before, but with activities of this type one works close to the figures for a long period of time; the figures were literally right under our noses.
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SAHARA ALGERIA. Rock Art in Oued Djerat and the Tefedest Region. By Ernesto Oeschger
After the ice age, the entire Sahara was a green bush and tree savanna, rich in water but with periodic wide fluctuations of cli¬mate. Between 6000 and 5000 B.C. there was an arid period similar to today’s condi¬tions. Before and after this period, a favora¬ble climate supported a riotous abundance of wildlife, and created ideal conditions for huntsmen, and later for herdsmen, whose artistic legacy survives in an astonishing and prolific wealth of rock drawings (petroglyphs) and rock paintings (pictographs). This treas¬ure trove of ancient rock art found in the mountainous regions of the Sahara startles the modern observer with an unusually fresh and forceful creative energy.
This rock art can be found in a wide belt that stretches between the Nile River in the East and the Atlas mountains in the far western corner of North Africa. The largest concentra¬tion of petroglyphs is found in the Southern Fezzan, especially in the Messak but also in the Acacus region, both of which are in Libya. The rock paintings, on the other hand, are primarily found in the region of Tassily n’Ajjer in Algeria. In the surrounding areas there are also many very interesting additional examples, often exhibiting highly original and characteristically local styles.
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After the ice age, the entire Sahara was a green bush and tree savanna, rich in water but with periodic wide fluctuations of cli¬mate. Between 6000 and 5000 B.C. there was an arid period similar to today’s condi¬tions. Before and after this period, a favora¬ble climate supported a riotous abundance of wildlife, and created ideal conditions for huntsmen, and later for herdsmen, whose artistic legacy survives in an astonishing and prolific wealth of rock drawings (petroglyphs) and rock paintings (pictographs). This treas¬ure trove of ancient rock art found in the mountainous regions of the Sahara startles the modern observer with an unusually fresh and forceful creative energy.This rock art can be found in a wide belt that stretches between the Nile River in the East and the Atlas mountains in the far western corner of North Africa. The largest concentra¬tion of petroglyphs is found in the Southern Fezzan, especially in the Messak but also in the Acacus region, both of which are in Libya. The rock paintings, on the other hand, are primarily found in the region of Tassily n’Ajjer in Algeria. In the surrounding areas there are also many very interesting additional examples, often exhibiting highly original and characteristically local styles.
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The Megalithic Monuments of Switzerland. By Inge und Heinz Diethelm
I will give a short survey of the megaliths which I do not consider the simplest forms, the widespread stone-cists and stone-cist necropolises of Switzerland. These larger megalithic monuments are only concentrated in the western and south-western region of the country. Remains of 3 dolmens are known in the region of the Jura and near the town of Basel. Most important are the dolmens one on a triangular platform of Sion-Petit Chasseur with stele with rich anthropomorphic decoration, and the menhirs of Sion-Chemin des Collines in the Rhone-valley in the Wallis, the alignment of Lutry-La Possession near the Lake of Genève, the alignment of Yverdon-Promenade des Anglaises south and the new finds of megalithic structures on the north-shore of Lake Neuchatel. These recent investigations brought new evidence to light, which provides now a better basis for understanding the Neolithic society’s economic structures and complex symbolic activities in Switzerland. Amateur and specialist astronomic interpretation has been attempted at the standing stones of Planezzas, Muotta Falera in the Swiss Alps.
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I will give a short survey of the megaliths which I do not consider the simplest forms, the widespread stone-cists and stone-cist necropolises of Switzerland. These larger megalithic monuments are only concentrated in the western and south-western region of the country. Remains of 3 dolmens are known in the region of the Jura and near the town of Basel. Most important are the dolmens one on a triangular platform of Sion-Petit Chasseur with stele with rich anthropomorphic decoration, and the menhirs of Sion-Chemin des Collines in the Rhone-valley in the Wallis, the alignment of Lutry-La Possession near the Lake of Genève, the alignment of Yverdon-Promenade des Anglaises south and the new finds of megalithic structures on the north-shore of Lake Neuchatel. These recent investigations brought new evidence to light, which provides now a better basis for understanding the Neolithic society’s economic structures and complex symbolic activities in Switzerland. Amateur and specialist astronomic interpretation has been attempted at the standing stones of Planezzas, Muotta Falera in the Swiss Alps.
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The neolithisation of Scandinavia. How did it happen? By Niels V. Skak-Nielsen
Since the early 1970s there has been a near-consensus among archaeologists that agricul¬ture was introduced to southern Scandinavia around 4000 cal BC without any immigration, through a voluntary decision by the indigenous hunter-fisher population. It has been sur¬mised that the necessary technology was adopted through contact with Neolithic cultures on the Continent.
In the present paper it is pointed out that these views, as well as later models of an economic shift without any immigration, are untenable. In the absence of any immigration, there would have been neither opportunity nor motive for the shift to a new economic culture. The European background to the shift is reviewed, taking into accout new results in this field of research. It is shown on the basis of published archaeological research that there has been immigration into southern Scandinavia.
The expansion of Neolithic cultures took c. two centuries from Holstein into the peninsula of Jutland and the Danish Isles, onward to Scania, and then to Bornholm, the Lake Mälaren area, Gotland and the Oslo Fjord. There is a strong likelihood that a climate change at the time, which caused the Danish straits and part of the Baltic Sea to freeze over during the winters, made this rapid spread of a new culture over such a large area possible. It is shown that this spread entailed immigration on a considerable scale compared to the size of the area’s Mesolithic population.
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Since the early 1970s there has been a near-consensus among archaeologists that agricul¬ture was introduced to southern Scandinavia around 4000 cal BC without any immigration, through a voluntary decision by the indigenous hunter-fisher population. It has been sur¬mised that the necessary technology was adopted through contact with Neolithic cultures on the Continent.In the present paper it is pointed out that these views, as well as later models of an economic shift without any immigration, are untenable. In the absence of any immigration, there would have been neither opportunity nor motive for the shift to a new economic culture. The European background to the shift is reviewed, taking into accout new results in this field of research. It is shown on the basis of published archaeological research that there has been immigration into southern Scandinavia.
The expansion of Neolithic cultures took c. two centuries from Holstein into the peninsula of Jutland and the Danish Isles, onward to Scania, and then to Bornholm, the Lake Mälaren area, Gotland and the Oslo Fjord. There is a strong likelihood that a climate change at the time, which caused the Danish straits and part of the Baltic Sea to freeze over during the winters, made this rapid spread of a new culture over such a large area possible. It is shown that this spread entailed immigration on a considerable scale compared to the size of the area’s Mesolithic population.
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The Space of Red Ochre. The Stone Age Gallery in the Province of Ångermanland, Northern Sweden. By Bernt Ove Viklund
In a limited area of northwest Ångermanland have been discovered 13 new rock paintings during the years 1996 to 2004, partly as a result of a systematic survey. Of these paintings four sites are presented where the span of contextual features is made clear. Most are unusual in Sweden. One is unique by representing the expected site of a carving, not a painting. The location of the paintings is seen as a product of the context, including elements of nature and the Neolithic basic winter settlements (4500-2500 BC), of which so far the same number as the paintings have been found in the area. The discoveries and their interpretation pre¬sumably will give indications on how to contextualize rock paintings and thereby to apply the survey model in the future.
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In a limited area of northwest Ångermanland have been discovered 13 new rock paintings during the years 1996 to 2004, partly as a result of a systematic survey. Of these paintings four sites are presented where the span of contextual features is made clear. Most are unusual in Sweden. One is unique by representing the expected site of a carving, not a painting. The location of the paintings is seen as a product of the context, including elements of nature and the Neolithic basic winter settlements (4500-2500 BC), of which so far the same number as the paintings have been found in the area. The discoveries and their interpretation pre¬sumably will give indications on how to contextualize rock paintings and thereby to apply the survey model in the future.
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