Crafting Communities and Social Networks in Viking Towns

Crafting Communities explores the interface between craft, communication networks, and urbanization in Viking-age Northern Europe. Viking-period towns were the hubs of cross-cultural communication of their age, and innovations in specialized crafts provide archaeologists with some of the best evidence for studying this communication. The integrated results presented in these papers have been made possible through the sustained collaboration of a group of experts with complementary insights into individual crafts. Results emerge from recent scholarly advances in the study of artifacts and production: first, the application of new analytical techniques in artifact studies (e.g. metallographic, isotopic, and biomolecular techniques) and second, the shifted in interpretative focus of medieval artifact studies from a concern with object function to considerations of processes of production, and of the social agency of technology. Furthermore, the introduction of social network theory and actor-network theory has redirected attention toward the process of communication, and highlighted the significance of material culture in the learning and transmission of cultural knowledge, including technology. The volume brings together leading UK and Scandinavian archaeological specialists to explore crafted products and workshop-assemblages from these towns, in order to clarify how such long-range communication worked in pre-modern Northern Europe. Contributors assess the implications for our understanding of early towns and the long-term societal change catalysed by them, including the initial steps towards commercial economies. Results are analyzed in relation to social network theory, social and economic history, and models of communication, setting an agenda for further research. Crafting Communities provides a landmark statement on our knowledge of Viking-Age craft and communication Table of Contents PART I: CRAFTING CONTEXTS 1. Steven P Ashby & Søren M. Sindbæk: Introduction: Crafting networks and Viking urbanism. 2. Johan Callmer : The Study of Viking-Age crafts 3. Søren M. Sindbæk: Viking-Age Urbanism, Social networks and cultural exchange PART II: WITHIN AND BEYOND THE DOMESTIC SPHERE Steven P Ashby & Søren M. Sindbæk: Introduction: Between domestic circles and urban networks. Lise Bender Jørgensen (Norwegian University of Science & Technology, Trondheim): Textile Production in Viking-Age Scandinavia. Penelope Walton Rogers (The Anglo-Saxon Laboratory, York): Textile Production in Late Anglo-Saxon and Anglo-Scandinavian Britain. Ailsa Mainman (York Archaeological Trust): Ceramics in the North Sea area c.700-1100 PART III: SKILLS AND MOVEMENT 8. Steven P Ashby & Søren M. Sindbæk : Introduction: Constructing Specialism. 9. Johan Callmer (Humboldt University, Berlin): Bone and antler working in Viking-Age Scandinavia 10. Steven P. Ashby (University of York): Chains of Innovation: combmaking in Viking-Age Europe 11. Patrick Ottaway (PJO Archaeology):The Archaeology of Blacksmithing and the rise of urbanism in northern Europe PART IV: MASTERS AND APPRENTICES 12. Steven P Ashby & Søren M. Sindbæk: Introduction: the Transmission of Expert Knowledge. 13. Unn Pedersen (IAKH, University of Oslo): From bronze casting to non-ferrous and precious metalwork in Viking-Age Scandinavia. 14. Penelope Walton Rogers (The Anglo-Saxon Laboratory, York): Non-ferrous metalworking in the British Isles PART V: EPILOGUE 15. Pierre Lemonnier: Conclusions and perspectives. "Crafts and Social Networks in Viking Towns explores the interface between craft, communication networks, and urbanisation in Viking-Age northern Europe. Viking-period towns were the hubs of cross-cultural communication of their age, and innovations in specialised crafts provide archaeologists with some of the best evidence for studying this communication. The integrated results presented in these papers have been made possible through the sustained collaboration of a group of experts with complementary insights into individual crafts. Results emerge from recent scholarly advances in the study of artefacts and production: first, the application of new analytical techniques (e.g. metallographic, isotopic, and biomolecular techniques) and second, the shift in interpretative focus from a concern with object function to considerations of processes of production, and of the social agency of technology. Furthermore, the introduction of social network theory and actor-network theory has redirected attention toward the process of communication, and highlighted the significance of material culture in the learning and transmission of cultural knowledge, including technology. The volume brings together leading UK and Scandinavian archaeological specialists to explore crafted products and workshop-assemblages from Viking towns, in order to clarify how such long-range communication worked in pre-modern northern Europe. Contributors assess the implications for our understanding of early towns and the long-term societal change catalysed by them, including the initial steps towards commercial economies. Results are analysed in relation to social network theory, social and economic history, and models of communication, setting an agenda for further research. The volume provides a landmark statement on our knowledge of Viking-Age craft and communication." -- Back cover Cover Book Title Copyright Contents 1. Crafting the urban network: Steven P. Ashby and Søren M. Sindbæk 2. Craft: some pragmatic notes on the study of craft production and craftspeople in early medieval northern Europe: Johan Callmer I 3. Between domestic circles and urban networks: Steven P. Ashby and Søren M. Sindbæk 4. The emergence of professional pottery production: York, a case study: Ailsa Mainman 5. Textile networks in Viking-Age towns of Britain and Ireland: Penelope Walton Rogers II 6. Constructing specialism: Steven P. Ashby and Søren M. Sindbæk 7. Combmaking in southern and eastern Scandinavia and the Baltic region (c. AD 700–900): Johan Callmer 8. A history of combmaking: biographies of innovation in Britain, Ireland and Scandinavia: Steven P. Ashby 9. The archaeology of blacksmithing and the rise of urbanism in England and northern Europe c. 700–1100: Patrick Ottaway III 10. Collaboration and expert knowledge: Steven P. Ashby and Søren M. Sindbæk 11. From bronze-casting to non-ferrous metalworking: complexity, choices and cooperation in urban Scandinavian Viking-Age workshops: Unn Pedersen 12. Non-ferrous metalworking networks in Scandinavian-influenced towns of Britain and Ireland: Penelope Walton Rogers List of contributors Explores the interface between craft, communication networks, and urbanization in Viking-age Northern Europe employing new theoretical and analytical approaches to artefacts, technology and the processes of craft specialisation in developing economies.