Conference Description
Bear and human – facets of a multilayered relationship (Oct. 16th to Oct. 18th 2019, Orsa Predator Park, Dalarna, Sweden)
For providing proper foundations for further reflection, the conference will first address bears themselves and archaeo(zoo)logy. The introduction of bear biology and ethology as well as an overview of modern bear management issues in northern Europe will provide the opportunity to intertwine research about the past with modern challenges. The location of the conference at Orsa Predator Park will also allow for the observation of live bears and bear habitat; it is important to see the topic embedded into real life. Regarding archaeo(zoo)logy, the exploration of bear-human relationships in a long-term perspective – covering the period from the late hunter-gatherers (Mesolithic; ca. 9.600-4.200 BC) to medieval times (until c. 1500 AD) – will be as important as focused analysis for limited periods of time, e.g. with regards to actual bear skins as grave furnishings (northern Europe, mainly first millennium AD).
Bear skin from a Migration Period grave in western Norway. After H. Shetelig, Vestlandske graver fra jernalderen (Bergen 1912).
Systematic archaeo(zoo)logical analysis of bear-related finds has been carried out since the second half of the 20th century (Sweden: cf. PETRÉ [1980] for bear-related furnishings in 1st millennium AD burials). However, more recent research, including different analytical methods from the Natural Sciences, has resulted in very detailed data; for example, a variety of furs belonging to bears and other animals has been verified for the Migration Period chamber grave at Högöm in Medelpad, Sweden (RAMQVIST 1992, 194–198), and it has been possible to demonstrate a pattern of annual bear bone depositions in an area beneath the later choir of the medieval stone church in Frösön, Jämtland, Sweden (MAGNELL/IREGREN 2010). Furthermore, important ongoing work, within a long-term research project, addresses ‘The Bear in the Grave’, for first millenium AD Sweden (Karl-Johan Lindholm/John Ljungkvist).
As described, it is only after the proper introduction of bears themselves (biology, ethology) and archaeo(zoo)logy that bear-and-human-relationships can be elaborated by a wide variety of representatives belonging to the Humanities. Regarding the role of bears in history of religion, northern Europe will be considered by two lectures. The analysis of bear images will be be arranged in a diachronic way, by covering both archaeological and art-historical periods: from bear figurines and rock art of the Mesolithic to the famous Torslunda dies from the Vendel period and, finally, to works of art history, e.g. hunting horns with bear depictions (e.g. OEHRL 2013 for 1st millennium AD bear imagery of Northern Europe). As to literature studies, the analysis of roles played by bears will include the so-called ‘berserks’, members of warrior clans wearing bear masks or skins (see e.g. BLANEY 1972; BREEN 1999; O’CONNER 2016). While analysing 19th century literary descriptions of bear encounters, one
lecture will reflect the role of bears in Swedish folk culture whereas yet another contribution will relate to Selma Lagerlöf and her consideration of bears.
Find (die) from the Vendel Period, found in Torslunda, Öland. Warrior wrapped up in a bear-skin (?). Woodcut, published in Kungl. Vitterhets Historie och Antiqvitets Akademiens Månadsblad (1872).
The conference on ‘Bear and human: facets of a multi-layered relationship’ has a structure of its own: lecturers are expected to provide a two-pages abstract before the actual meeting in order to allow proper preparation for participants with a wide range of backgrounds. During the conference, lectures will have restricted length (20 minutes) followed by questions and answers (10 minutes).
Cited literature
BLANEY 1972: B. Blaney, The berserkr. His origin and development in Old Norse literature (PhD., University of Colorado, 1972)
BREEN 1999: G. Breen, The berserkr in Old Norse and Icelandic literature (PhD, University of Cambridge, 1999).
MAGNELL/IREGREN 2010: O. Magnell/E. Iregren, Veistu hve blota skal? The Old Norse blot in the light of osteological remains from Froso church, Jämtland, Sweden. Current Swedish Archaeology 18, 2010, 223–250.
O’CONNER 2016: R. O’Connor, Monsters of the tribe: berserk fury, shapeshifting and social dysfunction in Táin Bó Cúailnge, Egils saga and Hrólfs saga kraka In: J.-E. Rekdal/C. Doherty (eds.), Kings and Warriors in Early North-West Europe (Dublin 2016) 180–236.
OEHRL 2013: S. Oehrl, Bear hunting and its ideological context (as a background for the interpretation of bear claws and other remains of bears in Germanic graves of the 1st millennium AD). In: O.Grimm/U. Schmölcke (eds.), Hunting in Northern Europe until 1500 AD. Old traditions and regional developments, continental sources and continental influences. Papers presented at a workshop organized by the Centre for Baltic and Scandinavian Archaeology, Schleswig, June 16th to 17th, 2011. Schriften des Archäologischen Landesmuseums Ergänzungsreihe Band 7 (Neumünster 2013) 297–332.
PETRÉ 1980: B. Petré, Björnfallen i begravningsritualen – statusobjekt speglande regional skinnhandel? Fornvännen 75, 1980, 5–14.
RAMQVIST 1992: P. Ramqvist, Högom. The excavations 1949–1984. Archaeology and environment of Högom I (Neumünster 1992).
Significance
The conference will result in a broad, well-founded and interdisciplinary narrative of bear-human relationships throughout human history in northern Europe. The state of research will be substantially improved, and the achieved synthesis will have a lasting influence on future research of the topic. The later peer-review conference publication will be considerably extended by including additional authors, which will help to develop an even broader narrative. This relates, for example, to philology (bears in place and family names) and to the role of bears in Sami communities, in the Baltic countries and Russia; in all cases, highly relevant sources will be introduced. The book, which will be edited in English by a well-reputed publisher, is expected to have roughly 50 articles with 1.000 pages in two volumes.
Scientific novelty
As far as we know, bear-and-human relationships have never been discussed by scholars in an interdisciplinary conference with representation of both the Natural Sciences and the Humanities. Also the long-term perspective is a novelty, inasmuch as the topic will be studied in the period from the late hunter and gatherers until modern times.
Participants
Around 20 lecturers and up to 20 further participants.
Dissemination activities
The manuscripts sent until April 2020 are meant to take into account the discussions during the conference. The later peer-review conference publication will be considerably extended by including additional authors, which will help to develop an even broader narrative. This relates, for example, to philology (bears in place and family names) and to the role of bears in Sami communities, in the Baltic countries and Russia; in all cases, highly relevant sources will be introduced. The book, which will be edited in English by a well-reputed publisher, is expected to have roughly 50 articles with 1.000 pages in two volumes.
Scientific committee
Prof. Olof Sundqvist (lead scientist), in close cooperation with PD Dr. Alexandra Pesch and Dr. Oliver Grimm (both from the Centre for Baltic and Scandinavian Archaeology = ZBSA, Schleswig, northern Germany)
Website
Informations on the conference will be made available via https://bearandhuman.blogspot.com/
Download the Conference Description