I-L22 and the Nordic Bronze Age
As promised, a look at the Nordic Bronze Age -
‘a novel form of religion-infused warriorhood which materialized via
new forms of weaponry boasting cosmology-rooted ornaments’ - Vandkilde
2014
The Nordic Bronze Age occurred between 1700BC and 500BC and is the point at which several of L22 daughter lines branched off and begun to take hold in various areas around Scandinavia, including L287 which is a heavily Finnish orientated branch, also present in Sami populations.
L287 is thought to have developed in areas in and around modern day Finland before proto-Germanic language and culture ye
t existed so far north, explaining why Finland is the only place where today we can find high numbers of L22 outside of traditionally ‘Germanic’ speaking peoples.
It is unlikely that any towns or cities existed in Nordic Bronze Age regions. More than likely small farmsteads existed with a longhouse as the focal point. These longhouses were common throughout Europe at the time, with extended families inhabiting them. It is this longhouse which would later become the ‘mead hall’ we so often associate with Germanic literature and tradition. (You can visit one here: http://www.lofotr.no/index.asp). The weather was also a lot warmer than the types of weather we often associate with Scandinavia today. Men would have shaven if they could (razors were a privileged item then) and woolen clothes formed majority of the wardrobe.
The sun, bodies of water, trees (oak) and weaponry are believed to have formed the basis of religious practices. How religion was practiced is a matter of speculation but some form of sacrifice would have been present - the disposal of a weapon in water for example. These practices were not exclusive to the Nordic Bronze Age however as similar sacrifices to water occurred in Britain for example. Further reading can be found in Norse Mythology A-Z, Daly, 2009.
Despite its location on the fringes of northern Europe, the Nordic Bronze Age people had contact with others across the continent. This is supported by archaeological finds and the parallels of religious and artistic developments between the Nordic population and other areas of Europe (particularly the Carpathian basin -(Vandkilde 2014)). Warrior tradition seems to have developed in the Nordic Bronze Age (as elsewhere in Europe) probably spurred on by the technological developments of bronze and associated weaponry. These ideas are supported by the wealth of bronze finds in southern Scandinavia and although such bronze finds are much rarer in the north – stone pictures can often be found demonstrating the same ideas and influences seen in bronze-work. In fact, the symbolism present in many of these northern stone carvings can be seen to have had a significant influence on or been the foundation of, themes present in later Icelandic literature (http://www.dandebat.dk/eng-dk-historie9.htm).
The Nordic Bronze Age was a time of significant development and expansion of L22 lines and their associated cultures. During this period, the societal foundations were laid for the subsequent development of Germanic language and culture we often see in books, movies and television serials today.
Interesting stuff! But I'm NOT a historian and whilst I try to reference all my sources where possible, it doesn't mean there isn't room for discussion.
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| Nordic Bronze Age (YouTube) |
The Nordic Bronze Age occurred between 1700BC and 500BC and is the point at which several of L22 daughter lines branched off and begun to take hold in various areas around Scandinavia, including L287 which is a heavily Finnish orientated branch, also present in Sami populations.
L287 is thought to have developed in areas in and around modern day Finland before proto-Germanic language and culture ye
t existed so far north, explaining why Finland is the only place where today we can find high numbers of L22 outside of traditionally ‘Germanic’ speaking peoples.
It is unlikely that any towns or cities existed in Nordic Bronze Age regions. More than likely small farmsteads existed with a longhouse as the focal point. These longhouses were common throughout Europe at the time, with extended families inhabiting them. It is this longhouse which would later become the ‘mead hall’ we so often associate with Germanic literature and tradition. (You can visit one here: http://www.lofotr.no/index.asp). The weather was also a lot warmer than the types of weather we often associate with Scandinavia today. Men would have shaven if they could (razors were a privileged item then) and woolen clothes formed majority of the wardrobe.
The sun, bodies of water, trees (oak) and weaponry are believed to have formed the basis of religious practices. How religion was practiced is a matter of speculation but some form of sacrifice would have been present - the disposal of a weapon in water for example. These practices were not exclusive to the Nordic Bronze Age however as similar sacrifices to water occurred in Britain for example. Further reading can be found in Norse Mythology A-Z, Daly, 2009.
Despite its location on the fringes of northern Europe, the Nordic Bronze Age people had contact with others across the continent. This is supported by archaeological finds and the parallels of religious and artistic developments between the Nordic population and other areas of Europe (particularly the Carpathian basin -(Vandkilde 2014)). Warrior tradition seems to have developed in the Nordic Bronze Age (as elsewhere in Europe) probably spurred on by the technological developments of bronze and associated weaponry. These ideas are supported by the wealth of bronze finds in southern Scandinavia and although such bronze finds are much rarer in the north – stone pictures can often be found demonstrating the same ideas and influences seen in bronze-work. In fact, the symbolism present in many of these northern stone carvings can be seen to have had a significant influence on or been the foundation of, themes present in later Icelandic literature (http://www.dandebat.dk/eng-dk-historie9.htm).
The Nordic Bronze Age was a time of significant development and expansion of L22 lines and their associated cultures. During this period, the societal foundations were laid for the subsequent development of Germanic language and culture we often see in books, movies and television serials today.
Interesting stuff! But I'm NOT a historian and whilst I try to reference all my sources where possible, it doesn't mean there isn't room for discussion.
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