The Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia

300 Pages·2007·12.202 MB·English

by  Valter Lang

The Bronze and
Early Iron Ages in Estonia
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The Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia
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Contents
Estonian Archaeology 3
VALTER LANG
THE BRONZE AND EARLY
IRON AGES IN ESTONIA
Tartu University Press
Humaniora: archaeologica
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The Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia
Official publication of the Institute of History and Archaeology of the University of Tartu
Estonian Archaeology
Editor-in-Chief: Valter Lang University of Tartu, Estonia
Editorial Board: Anders Andrén University of Stockholm, Sweden
Bernhard Hänsel Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
Volli Kalm University of Tartu, Estonia
Aivar Kriiska University of Tartu, Estonia
Mika Lavento University of Helsinki, Finland
Lembi Lõugas Tallinn University, Estonia
Heidi Luik Tallinn University, Estonia
Yevgeni Nosov University of St. Petersburg, Russia
Jüri Peets Tallinn University, Estonia
Klavs Randsborg University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Jussi-Pekka Taavitsainen University of Turku, Finland
Andres Tvauri University of Tartu, Estonia
Heiki Valk University of Tartu, Estonia
Andrejs Vasks University of Latvia, Latvia
Vladas Žulkus University of Klaipeda, Lithuania
Estonian Archaeology, 3
The Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia
Author: Valter Lang
Editor: Margot Laneman
Translators: Mariko Veldi and Enn Veldi
English editor: Julie Raymond-Yakoubian
Lay-out: Kristel Külljastinen
Lay-out of maps: Kristel Külljastinen and Jaana Ratas
Photos and drawings: Archives of the Institute of History of the
Tallinn University (if not mentioned otherwise)
Cover design: Meelis Friedenthal
© University of Tartu and Valter Lang, 2007
ISSN 1736-3810
ISBN 978-9949-11-726-0
Tartu University Press (www.tyk.ee)
Order No.
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Contents
Introduction
European background 11
Chronology of the Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia 14
About the book in general 15
Acknowledgements 17
Chapter 1. Prerequisites for the Development of an Agrarian Society:
the Early Bronze Age
1.1. Settlement and economy 19
1.1.1. Settlement sites 19
1.1.2. Late stone axes 24
1.1.3. Pollen diagrams 31
1.1.4. The first landnam 33
1.2. Society and culture 36
1.2.1. ‘Epineolithic culturelessness’ 36
1.2.2. Exchange of prestige items 38
The earliest metal artefacts 38
The social context of imported items 41
1.3. Centre – periphery relations 44
1.4. Conclusion 47
Chapter 2. Settlement Sites and Settlement in
the Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages
2.1. Open settlement sites 49
2.2. Enclosed settlement sites 55
2.2.1. Fortified settlements 57
Iru 57
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The Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia
Asva 60
Ridala 63
Joaorg at Narva 66
Fortified settlements and their context 67
2.2.2. Hilltop settlements 71
2.2.3. Early ring forts 74
Kaali 75
Võhma and Pidula 77
Massu, Päälda, and Lipa 78
2.2.4. Early promontory hill forts 81
2.3. Developmental trends in settlement throughout Estonia 83
2.3.1. North-western Estonia 83
2.3.2. North-eastern Estonia 85
2.3.3. Central Estonia 86
2.3.4. South-eastern Estonia 87
2.3.5. South-western Estonia 89
2.3.6. The islands and western Estonia 90
2.4. Conclusion 93
Chapter 3. Agriculture and Handicraft in the
Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages
3.1. Land cultivation and cattle rearing 95
3.1.1. Land use systems 96
Clearance cairn fields 96
Block-shaped fields 98
Baltic fields 98
Celtic fields 103
3.1.2. Agricultural tools 105
Ards 105
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Contents
Sickles 108
Grinding stones 109
3.1.3. Cattle rearing and grain growing 110
3.1.4. Land use systems and society 113
3.2. Metal work 115
3.2.1. Bronze work 115
Tha start of local bronze production 115
The bronze trade network in the Late Bronze Age 117
Bronze work in the Pre-Roman and Roman Iron Ages 120
3.2.2. Iron work 120
The first iron items 121
The first iron-smelting sites and the development of local products 122
Iron and the society 124
3.3. Ceramics 125
3.3.1. Pottery making 125
3.3.2. Styles of pottery 127
3.4. Other forms of handicraft 136
3.4.1. Textiles 136
Cloth making based on Textile Ceramics 136
Tools used for cloth making 137
3.4.2. Woodworking 139
3.4.3. Bone working 143
3.5. Conclusion 145
Chapter 4. Graves and Burial Customs in the
Late Bronze and Early Iron Ages
4.1. Stone-cist graves 147
4.1.1 Distribution of stone-cist graves 147
4.1.2. Structure of stone-cist graves 149
Circular walls 149
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The Bronze and Early Iron Ages in Estonia
Cist 151
The area between the cist and the circular wall 152
4.1.3. Burial in stone-cist graves 153
4.1.4. Grave goods 155
Ornaments 155
Tools and everyday items 159
Weapons 160
Stone items 160
Ceramics 160
4.1.5. The age and origin of the stone-cist graves 161
4.2. Ship graves 164
4.3. Cairn graves 166
4.3.1. Cairn graves without circular walls 166
4.3.2. Cairn graves with circular walls 167
4.3.3. The age, distribution, and origin of cairn graves 168
4.4. Early tarand-graves 170
4.4.1. Kurevere-type graves 170
4.4.2. Kõmsi-type graves 172
4.4.3. Poanse-type graves 174
4.4.4. Early single-tarand-graves 177
4.4.5. Burials in early tarand-graves 178
Inhumations 178
Cremations 180
4.4.6. Grave goods 180
Ornaments 181
Tools and everyday items 186
Weapons 187
Ceramics 187
4.4.7. The age and origin of the early tarand-graves 188
4.5. Typical tarand-graves 191
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