Viking Age ironmaking in Norway

Abstract

The Viking Age is a period where there can be no doubt that large quantities of iron were needed. In Norway, well-established and long-running iron-making traditions lasted from the start of the Iron Age until about AD600, at which time a complete collapse of iron-making is apparent in the archaeological record. During the Viking Age, a completely different type of iron-making furnace spread throughout the country, coinciding with the unification of the country under king Harald Finehair. This talk will highlight the differences between the iron-making traditions practiced before the Viking Age and during the Viking Age, and explore the relationship between political and technological changes.

The Medieval Seminar Series is sponsored by the World Archaeology Section at the UCL Institute of Archaeology and the British Museum.

All meetings start at 6.15pm at the UCL Institute of Archaeology. Attendees are invited to bring news items for announcement before the start of each seminar.

• The programme for the 2019-20 Institute of Archaeology/British Museum Medieval Seminar Series is available to download here»

Seminar Series Convenors:

• Sue Brunning (British Museum)
• Andrew Reynolds (Institute of Archaeology)