The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade

Whetstones of the Viking Age can have a conspicuous design, but not much is understood about the specific use of more unusual specimens, or their place in rituals. This article proposes a new interpretation of whetstones, based on novel studies of a well-known whetstone from Lejre, and miniature pe...

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Autores principales:	Mads Dengsø Jessen, Michelle Taube
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	NB SV
Publicado:	Norsk arkeologisk selskap 2021
Materias:	Archaeology CC1-960
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/21482431eb094964bd87abf92bb80a12
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:21482431eb094964bd87abf92bb80a122021-11-23T14:50:33ZThe Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade10.5617/viking.90550332-608X2535-2660https://doaj.org/article/21482431eb094964bd87abf92bb80a122021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://journals.uio.no/viking/article/view/9055https://doaj.org/toc/0332-608Xhttps://doaj.org/toc/2535-2660 Whetstones of the Viking Age can have a conspicuous design, but not much is understood about the specific use of more unusual specimens, or their place in rituals. This article proposes a new interpretation of whetstones, based on novel studies of a well-known whetstone from Lejre, and miniature pendants from Tissø. Our examination of the prominent whetstone from the Lejre hoard with an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) scan, did not reveal any metal traces, which suggests that it was unused. At Tissø, the find distribution of so-called stafflike pendants – made of iron, bronze, or silver – links them to a metal-working area, and since their morphology resembles full-scale whetstones we suggest that they may be symbolic, miniature whetstones. Finally, we argue that the overarching meaning of the ritual use of whetstones is more related to the authority over – and control of – metallurgical processes, as well as the trade of metal goods, and only by proxy to the smith himself. Mads Dengsø JessenMichelle TaubeNorsk arkeologisk selskaparticleArchaeologyCC1-960NBSVViking, Vol 84, Iss 1 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	NB SV
topic	Archaeology CC1-960
spellingShingle	Archaeology CC1-960 Mads Dengsø Jessen Michelle Taube The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade
description	Whetstones of the Viking Age can have a conspicuous design, but not much is understood about the specific use of more unusual specimens, or their place in rituals. This article proposes a new interpretation of whetstones, based on novel studies of a well-known whetstone from Lejre, and miniature pendants from Tissø. Our examination of the prominent whetstone from the Lejre hoard with an x-ray fluorescence (XRF) scan, did not reveal any metal traces, which suggests that it was unused. At Tissø, the find distribution of so-called stafflike pendants – made of iron, bronze, or silver – links them to a metal-working area, and since their morphology resembles full-scale whetstones we suggest that they may be symbolic, miniature whetstones. Finally, we argue that the overarching meaning of the ritual use of whetstones is more related to the authority over – and control of – metallurgical processes, as well as the trade of metal goods, and only by proxy to the smith himself.
format	article
author	Mads Dengsø Jessen Michelle Taube
author_facet	Mads Dengsø Jessen Michelle Taube
author_sort	Mads Dengsø Jessen
title	The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade
title_short	The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade
title_full	The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade
title_fullStr	The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade
title_full_unstemmed	The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade
title_sort	symbolic use of whetstones and their role in displaying authority over metallurgical processes and trade
publisher	Norsk arkeologisk selskap
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/21482431eb094964bd87abf92bb80a12
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The Symbolic Use of Whetstones and Their Role in Displaying Authority over Metallurgical Processes and Trade

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