When did the Nordic Bronze Age begin and end?
The Nordic Bronze Age began shortly after 2000 BC when bronze tools appeared in southern Scandinavia and northern Germany. The period ended with the Late Bronze Age collapse in the 12th century BC.
Questions about Nordic Bronze Age
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Who created the six sub-periods of the Nordic Bronze Age?
Oscar Montelius divided this era into six sub-periods in his 1885 publication On Bronze Age dating with particular focus on Scandinavia. His relative chronology has held up well against radiocarbon dating, though modern science places the start closer to 1700 BC than he originally suggested.
What were the main types of buildings used during the Nordic Bronze Age?
Single farmsteads dominated the landscape during this period, typically consisting of longhouses plus additional four-post built structures known as helms. Some buildings reached exceptional sizes, measuring up to 10 meters wide by 50 meters in length, covering an area of 500 square meters.
How were bodies preserved in Nordic Bronze Age burials?
Oak coffin burials dating from the 14th to 13th centuries BC contained well-preserved mummified bodies along with their clothing and burial goods. These bodies were intentionally mummified by watering the burial mounds to create bog-like, oxygen-free environments within the graves.
Where did copper and tin come from for Nordic Bronze Age metalworking?
Copper was imported from Slovakia via central Germany starting around 2100 BCE, while tin came from the British Isles. Copper also arrived from Sardinia, Iberia, and Cyprus during the Nordic Bronze Age period.
What genetic clusters were found in people of the Nordic Bronze Age?
A 2024 study published in Nature analyzed around 40 individuals Late Neolithic Bronze Age Southern Scandinavia. Study found evidence three distinct genetic clusters LNBA phase I dated 4,600 and 4,300 cal bp archaeologically associated Battle Axe culture early Single Grave culture.