The ship as symbol in the prehistory of Scandinavia and south-east Asia

Ballard, C., Bradley, R., Nordenborg Myhre, L. and Wilson, M. (2004) The ship as symbol in the prehistory of Scandinavia and south-east Asia. World Archaeology, 35 (3). pp. 385-403. ISSN 0043-8243 doi: 10.1080/0043824042000185784

Abstract/Summary

The ship is the dominant element in the visual culture of the South Scandinavian Bronze Age, appearing in several different media, including rock carvings, decorated metalwork and above-ground monuments. Discussion has divided between those scholars who interpret this imagery in terms of long-distance exchange networks and those who emphasize its more local significance, including its deployment in mortuary ritual. A strikingly similar system is identified in Southeast Asia and part of Melanesia and can be interpreted through archaeological and ethnographic sources, but in this case there is no need to distinguish between 'practical' and 'symbolic' interpretations of the depictions of ships. This paper summarizes the evidence from this region and suggests that it can offer a fruitful source of comparison for archaeologists working in northern Europe.

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Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/3222
Item Type	Article
Divisions	Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Social Archaeology
Uncontrolled Keywords	Ships; travel; exchange; rock art; metalwork; mortuary ritual; cosmology; Scandinavia; Southeast Asia; Melanesia
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