essay

Regional archaeological research in Iceland: potentials and possibilities

anthropology of iceland • Iowa City • Published In 1989 • Pages: 179-202

By: Smith, Kevin P., Parsons, Jeffrey R..

Abstract

In this essay the authors discuss the role of regional archaeological studies as a means of investigating patterns of cultural change in Medieval Iceland during the period of 875-1550 A.D. Much of the ethnohistorical data in this work related to change is obtained primarily from the analysis of Icelandic political structure (e.g., the relationship between chieftains and their supporters and tenants), as derived from the various sagas written during this period. This document attempts to develop a framework for a simple model of cultural change focusing '…on relationships between household wealth, economic rank, and economic hierarchies that could be used to study patterning in the regional distribution of wealth and economic or political power. We [the authors] apply this preliminary model to agricultural census data from the eighteenth century rather than archaeological data in order to demonstrate the strengths of such an approach when applied to a known data base and to discuss implications for archaeoloigcal research' (p. 187).

HRAF PubDate

2004

Region

Europe

Sub Region

Scandinavia

Document Type

essay

Evaluation

Creator Type

Ethnologist

Document Rating

4: Excellent Secondary Data

Analyst

John Beierle ; 2002

Field Date

no date

Coverage Place

general Iceland

Notes

Kevin P. Smith and Jeffrey R. Parsons

Papers from a conference held in Iowa City, in May 1987

Includes bibliographical references (p. 199-202)

LCCN

89004657

LCSH

Icelanders