Prehistoric Icons of the Present
Saga Oseberg | © Teilprojekt C07
Subproject:
C 07 Prehistoric Icons as Resources in the Past and the Present
Project leadership:
Prof. Dr. Jörn Staecker, Prof. Dr. Heinrich Härke
Staff:
Nina Nordström
Region:
Germany, Denmark, Norway
How does an object become an icon?
So called ‚icons‘ as cultural resources are part of a complex process and have to be analyzed from a diachronic perspective. For the first phase of the project ‚Prehistoric Icons as Resources in the Past and the Present‘ a study of the shipwrecks of Osenberg, Gokstad and Hedeby, as well as the monuments of Jelling is planned. The meaning of monuments as identity and nation establishing reasons is yet to be investigated. The aim of the combined investigation of the significance of these icons in the past and present is to show that the apparent archaeological objectivity is always dependent on the contemporary relevance and the interaction of science, media and the public sphere.