History in scandi, vikings, artefact aDNA and genetics past 1000 years Flashcards
(29 cards)
How did Scandinavia look during the LGM? What happened thereafter until ~10 ka BP?
All of Fennoscandinavia (Scandinavia not including Denmark) was covered by the Ice sheet during LGM (23-21 ka BP), the Fennoscandian ice sheet even coalesced with the British ice sheet = definitely no people.
After the LGM, at around 15 kya, Skåne got exposed again, and from 14 kya and onwards, the temperatures got warmer (besides for YD stadial 12.7-11.6 ka). The ice melted at a rapid pace of a few tens of km per century, humans arrive in the south of Sweden and coastal Norway.
At around 10 ka BP (the last stage of the glaciation) humans arrive to the north of Scandinavia - at this time the glacial ice melting and the land being pushed down by the heavy glaciers resulted in shorelines that were much further into the land than today (shore displacement) for example most of southern Finland and central Sweden was covered in water, and the land is still undergoing uplift today.
Because Scandinavia was covered for so long, there is almost no aDNA samples from Scandi before 10 kya.
What was the ancestry of the first people living in Scandinavia?
The first people living in Scandinavia was Scandinavian hunter-gatherers, whose genetic profiles cluster in-between WHG and EHG, their genomes have contributions from both.
There are two hypothesized routes of people into Scandinavia, which? What does the evidence support?
The two hypothesized routes into Scandinavia are:
- From the south through Denmark and up north
- From the northeast down the Norwegian coast.
The genomic profiles of samples taken through Scandi shows that there is a gradient, so samples from up north have more EHG and in the south more WHG, so the consensus is that people migrated into Scandinavia through both routes, met and admixed. Very roughly, WHG had a phenotypic profile of blue eyes dark skin, while EHG had a phenotype of light skin, varying hair color and brown eyes - with admixture that might have contributed to the classic light skin, blue eyes phenotype that is present in Scandinavia today.
- For the EHG route there is a clear coastal pattern (marine based hunter-gatherer practices) of SHG following the Norwegian coast, 96% of the sites are coastal, 4% in mountains. These also have artefacts and tools indicate Ahrensburgian tradition (Central/Northern Europe hunter-gatherer culture).
- Geographical division of different blade techniques: Direct blade technique 11,5-11,3 cal. ka BP Western Sweden/coast of Norway/north of Finland. Pressure blade technique south of Sweden/Finland and the Baltics (old origins in the east).
Is there any evidence of adaptations to local (cold) environment in SHGs?
Günther et al. 2018 identified SNPs present both in SHGs and modern-day northern Europeans, but not in modern-day southern European populations. They found that 6 of the top 10 SNPs in SHG and modern day North Europeans were from the same gene: TMEM131 - associated with physical performance. Other genes associated with metabolic, cardiovascular, developmental and psychological traits were found. These might very well be adaptations to the cold, which is both physically and mentally challenging.
Why is the early Mesolithic osteological record so scarce in Northern Scandinavia?
The soil in Scandinavia is very acidic = poor preservation, also it is believed that the early Mesolithic populations here were very small, so less chance of finding the remains. Instead, proxies for human activity has been dated: Burnt animal bones, Settlement sites, Pit hearths so there is some recorded human activity 11-9 kya.
What Mesolithic cultures were present in Scandinavia?
- Bromme Ca. 13 500-12 500 BP. Originated in Southern Scandinavia/Northern Europe (similar to Ahrensburg)
- Ahrensburg Ca. 13 000-11 000 BP Originated in Central/Northern Europe
- Fosna/Hensbacka Ca. 12 500-11 000 BP (related to Ahrensburg culture) Fosna in Norway, Hensbacka in Sweden, Travelled by boats.
- Komsa Ca. 11 500-10 500 BP, Ahrensburgian origin and related to Fosna with influences from East, Northern Norway/Finland, Quartz/Quartzite.
- Maglemose Ca. 11 000-8 000 BP, England-Poland, France-Scania, hunted and fished, Many settlements are now submerged due to sea level changes.
- Kongemose Ca. 8 400-7 400 BP, Only in southern Scandinavia, Burials at Kongemose sites, graves and cremations. Aurochs, elk and bears were extirpated from Sjælland at this point, over-hunting?
- Ertebølle Ca. 7 400-5 900 BP Southern Scandinavia Fishing gear: nets, hooks, harpoons, Used pottery after ca. 6 800 BP.
Then came the Neolithic transition with Anatolian farmers coming in, genetic turnover ~6000 BP, mostly southern Scandi, Neolithic onset in Fertile Crescent ca 12 000 years ago… so very late hehe.
What Neolithic cultures were present in Scandinavia?
- Funnel beaker: Ca. 6 000-4 800 BP, First farmers in Scandinavia, Fast transition, 200-400 years, highest quality Scandinavian Neolithic pottery, Megalith burials.
- Pitted ware Ca. 5 400-4 400, Neolithic hunter-gatherers. Different mitochondrial haplogroups compared with neolithic farmers, coastal residence, long, tanged projectile points, Large stone blades.
- Corded ware/Single grave/Battle axe Ca. 4 800-4 350 BP, “Pastoral warriors”, Settlements are rare, mostly graves, inland residence, Different name depending on geography, slight differences between them. Early CWC/BAC individuals had >90% Yamna steppe ancestry, this proportion decreased in later individuals (one single migration event and turnover by the Yamna expansion)
- Bell beaker Ca. 4 800-3 800 BP, Spread through culture, rather than migration. Explorers, traders, Potentially introduced beer to Scandinavia (thank you!)
Describe the Scandinavian Bronze age, when, what?
The Scandinavian bronze age Ca. 3 700-2 500 BP:
-Bronze artifacts in abundance, more than anywhere else in Europe. Bronze = copper + tin (~9:1).
- Animal milk and wool became important industries
- Horses and chariots used
- Warrior society - a lot of damaged weapons
- Social differences in status (slaves? probably)
- Rock carvings in Kärrtorp from this time.
- Cremation and remains buried in urn (Fewer skeletal remains for aDNA studies) but also major burials with lots of treasure.
When was the Scandinavian Iron age, describe it briefly.
The Scandinavian Iron age: Ca. 2 500-1 250 BP (750 AD) in Scandinavia:
- Usage of iron gave sharper and stronger weapons and iron ores are more abundant
- Increased regionalization and warfare
- Shift from chiefdoms to state-like organizations
- War infrastructure: roads, walls, bridges, ring forts etc.
- Northern parts were still inhabited by hunter-gatherers
- Larger settlements, e.g. Uppåkra outside Lund ~400 AD 1000 inhabitants, Gamla Uppsala with huge grave mounds,
- A lot of bog bodies: Potentially bogs were seen as a direct line of communication to the gods. Most things was sacrificed: food, valuable jewelry, animals, occasionally humans
750 AD: End of Iron age –> VIKINGS!
Describe Scandinavia in terms of arable land and climate
Arable land (odlingsmark) is relatively low in Scandinavia, especially in the northern parts, which puts a cap on how many people the land can support, therefore pretty small populations here.
The climate in Scandinavia is varied, the southernmost parts (and by far the most populous) regions have a temperate climate, Scandinavia extends north of the Arctic Circle, but has relatively mild weather for its latitude due to the Gulf Stream Much of the Scandinavian mountains have an alpine tundra climate. There are many lakes and moraines, legacies of the last glacial period, which ended about ten millennia ago.
Sweden and Finland have the highest percentage of land area covered by forests in all of Europe and is home do a diverse and unique flora and fauna due to its unique climate.
What changes occurred during the Iron age that changed life in Scandinavia pretty drastically?
The 6th and 5th century BC was a tipping point for exports and imports on the European continent –> The ever increasing conflicts and wars between the central European Celtic tribes and the Mediterranean cultures, destabilized old major trade routes and networks between Scandinavia and the Mediterranean, eventually breaking them down, and changing the Scandinavian cultures dramatically.
Now they had to be practically self-dependent and self-sustaining. Archaeology attests a rapid and deep change in the Scandinavian culture and way of life. Agricultural production became more intensified, organized around larger settlements and with a much more labor-intensive production. Though the decline of foreign trade might suggest that the period marked a transition from a rich and wealthy culture to a poor and meagre culture, the population grew and new technology was developed.
Then after the Roman Empire had fallen, Christianity was legalized and started to spread which was a major threat to the pagan traditions held here.
When was the Viking age? What is the period characterized by?
The Viking age is generally considered to be 750-1100 CE, but some count it specifically between 793: Christian monastery at Lindisfarne in north-east England raided - They stole its treasures, murdered the monks and terrified everyone until 1066 when the king of Norway was defeated.
It is the period of history when Scandinavian Norsemen explored Europe and beyond by its seas and rivers for trade, raids and conquest (really liked rude “graffiti” (carvings). They were good water farers with strong boats that could go up fast and shallow rivers. In this period, the Norsemen settled in Norse Greenland, Newfoundland, and present-day Faroe Islands, Iceland, Normandy, Scotland, England, Ukraine, Ireland, Russia, Germany, and Turkey.
Which is the oldest town in sweden?
Birka is often referred to as the first town in Sweden, located in mälardalen, founded around 750 and died out around 960 CE today it is a UNESCO World heritage site.
It is well known that the Vikings raided, so other people were very scared of them, but what were their home life like?
Yes the Vikings raided, murdered and stole, but well home they had strict laws that needed to be followed, women could inherit wealth and be warriors, and even though they are most famous for their raiding and exploring, most of them were farmers who raised livestock and fishermen, some of whom went “a-viking” in the summer. Skillful crat workers, beautiful metalwork and wooden carvings.
Their society was based on agriculture and trade with other people and placed great emphasis on the concept of honor. Everyone lived together in a large home called a longhouse. They were chiefly pagans (Norse mythology) with interesting burials, some of the graves even have furniture! The Viking attacks may have been in response to the spread of Christianity among pagan peoples. It took a long time before the Scandinavians adapted Christianity.
What was the Vikings also called?
The Vikings were also known as the Norse or Northmen.
How was Viking society structured?
Viking society functioned as kingdoms, most Viking countries/regions were ruled by a king, then there was Jarls/Chieftains that were also an important part of the power structure. The craftsmen and farmers were mostly freemen/karlar and lowest was the Thralls (mostly northern Europeans that worked off debt).
Still today one can see the genetics of the Vikings in the British isles and Iceland, what can be found?
- Recent studies of Y-chromosomes and mtDNA of Icelanders indicate that this population’s gene pool was the result of admixture between: male subjects whose patrilineal ancestry lay in Scandinavia and female subjects whose matrilineal ancestry lay within the British Isles.
A further study suggests that Icelanders and Orkney Islanders have similar proportions of Scandinavian mtDNA ancestry (36%) A sizeable component of Scandinavian patrilineal ancestry has been reported in Orkney (55%) and Shetland (68%).
What is the prominent evidence that Viking women could be warriors?
One grave in Birka contained one skeleton, which later was shown to be female beyond doubt (a lot went into it because everyone thought that it was impossible that a woman could be a warrior SUCK) but the lack of a Y chromosome after genome wide studies and the indication of it being a woman from osteology confirmed that the individual was a woman.
Several weapons were buried alongside the body, including a sword, armor-piercing arrows, a battle knife, an axe, a spear and two shields, indicating that the skeleton was likely that of a warrior. Accompanying the wide array of weapons were two horses and a full set of game pieces and a gaming board. The gaming pieces suggest that the person buried was a high-ranking combatant who was knowledgeable of strategies and tactics.
The identification of a female Viking warrior provides a unique insight into the Viking society, social constructions, and exceptions to the norm in the Viking time-period. The results call for caution against generalizations regarding social orders in past societies. In Viking society, women enjoyed a surprising degree of autonomy and independence.
How did the Viking age affect todays societies?
The events of the Viking Age altered the political, cultural and demographic map of Europe in ways that are evident to this day. Scandinavian diasporas established trade and settlements that stretched from the American continent to the Asian steppe. They exported ideas, technologies, language, beliefs and practices to these lands, developed new socio-political structures and assimilated cultural influences.
Looking at population genetics of the Vikings, what is apparent?
Most people from the Viking world cluster close together, regardless of country. What is apparent in pop. gen. studies is that there was a big influx of people into Scandinavia too, not just a spread outwards. They settled for generations, involved more people that went home with them afterwards.
- Eastward movements mainly involved Swedish-like ancestry
- Whereas individuals with Norwegian-like ancestry travelled to Iceland, Greenland, Ireland and the Isle of Man.
Ancient DNA analysis also revealed that a Viking expedition included close family members. Also results show that ‘Viking’ identity was not limited to individuals of Scandinavian genetic ancestry. Two individuals from Orkney who were buried in Scandinavian fashion are genetically similar to present-day Irish and Scottish populations, and are probably the first Pictish genomes published.
What are the main use cases of aDNA in archaeology?
The main use cases of aDNA in archaeology are:
- Human history and evolution
- Domestication
- Sedimentary DNA
- Phylogeny and systematics
- Demographic change
What are the types of finds in an archaeological excavation?
Types of finds in an archaeological excavation:
- Human remains
- Animal remains
- Ceramics
- Jewelry
- Wood and textiles (rare)
What four kind of “resources” can be used from skeletal remains to decypher human history? how?
- Human DNA: Social structure and kinship, population structure and demography, Phenotype prediction, selection
- Microbial DNA: General health, Disease (endemic and epidemic), Oral health
- Archeology and biological anthropology: General health, Cultural practices, Lifestyle/subsistence, social structure.
- Isotopes/proteomics: Dating, Diet, Origin/location
When no skeletal remains are found, are there other proxies for archeological analysis? Name five.
Many!
Archaeobotanical remains, Stone and ceramics, Palaeofaeces and coprolites for example.
