Session: #417

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Archaeology shows that the Baltic Sea, an inland sea of the North, which today both unites and divides nine different countries, has been a vital point of exchange and interaction since ancient times with social, cultural and economic networks reaching beyond the geographical boarders of the region itself. Be it prehistoric amber or early modern herring, both goods and people have moved within and through Baltic networks since times immemorial. The brackish waters, on the border between saltwater and freshwater, not only provide excellent preservation conditions for shipwrecks, but have also led to unique ecological conditions for local lifestyle. This especially goes for island communities, living away from the continental mainland, variously becoming either peripheral or central locations in the maritime trade and communication networks of the time. However, while insular and coastal life in the seascapes of the Baltic Sea – so closely tied to seafaring and shipbuilding, fishing and maritime hunting – could provide great opportunities, they also came with inherent risks. Many calamities and perils faced these peoples, above all the constant threat of poor weather and cold water. This session, which covers both the Baltic Sea Proper and the various gulfs and bays, welcomes contributions dealing with the archaeology and material culture of the maritime communities of the Baltic Sea, the networks they built across the waters, and the hazards they faced. What does archaeological data tell us about the connections and networks in the Baltic Sea region, and do they reflect the risks?

Session: #417

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