‘Sem at forno fare hever verít?’ Shielings and transhumant practices during the Iron Age and Medieval Period
‘Sem at forno fare hever verít?’ Shielings and transhumant practices during the Iron Age and Medieval Period
Kristoffer Dahle
The shieling system is deeply rooted within traditional Scandinavian and North Atlantic agriculture. This research project investigates Norwegian shielings as both archaeological sites and cultural-historical phenomena, focusing on their development during the Iron Age and Medieval Period. The study aims to improve identification, interpretation, and management of shielings using diverse data sources, including archaeological surveys, non-destructive methods, environmental sampling, and large-scale data analysis, with emphasis on the county of Møre and Romsdal. Despite few excavations, the research demonstrates the potential of survey data and introduces a four-phase chronological model for transhumance in Møre and Romsdal which is discussed in a wider Scandinavian and North Atlantic context. Findings indicate significant regional variation, yet with notable expansion and changes across western Norway from the Late Iron Age to the High Middle Ages. This process was likely driven by population growth, resource pressure, and broader societal changes, leading to specialised dairy production, but was also influenced by innovations and external impulses. The study also critiques current heritage management practices, highlighting inconsistencies in survey methods and classification that create biases. Finally, it evaluates traditional and advanced methods—such as remote sensing and environmental analysis—proposing best practices for archaeological documentation and cultural heritage management.
Fyrirlesturinn er hluti af Nýjar rannsóknir í fornleifafræði 2025, fyrirlestraröð Félags fornleifafræðinga og námsbrautar í fornleifafræði við Háskóla Íslands. Fyrirlesturinn fer fram í stofu 202 í Odda, Háskóla Íslands. Einnig verður hægt að fylgjast með í streymi hér: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85215880089?pwd=NF05NwGJPG23v1TOCJh6kK6r0aY8dv.1