Animal-human relations on the household-farm in Viking Age and medieval Iceland
Studies of animal-human relations in the Old Norse world have often focussed on symbolic or economic relations with animals. In contrast, this thesis investigates relationships between domestic animals, humans, and the household-farm as expressed in laws, sagas, and material culture from Iceland. It demonstrates the complexity of animal-human relations in forming and sustaining the household-farm, and in shaping the admiration and anxieties expressed towards animals and animal-human relationships in narratives about the creation and operation of these home-places. Chapter 1 analyses narratives constructed around the settlement of Iceland, examining LandnĂĄmabĂłk and stories about settlement in the ĂslendingasĂ¶gur, as well as modern archaeological interpretations of the AĂ°alstrĂŠti house. It argues that medieval Icelanders presented settlement as a tripartite exchange between humans, domestic animals, and the land; a representation at odds with recent archaeological interpretations. Chapter 2 reconstructs the legal regulation of animal-human relations in GrĂĄgĂĄs. It demonstrates that these laws encourage a demarcated legal landscape, in which domestic animals were to be controlled, protected, and punished;
Evans, Harriet Jean
Animal-human relations on the household-farm in Viking Age and medieval Iceland. Studies of animal-human relations in the Old Norse world have often focussed on symbolic or economic relations with animals. In contrast, this thesis investigates relationships between domestic animals, humans, and the household-farm as expressed in laws, sagas, and material culture from Iceland. It demonstrates the complexity of animal-human relations in forming and sustaining the household-farm, and in shaping the admiration and anxieties expressed towards animals and animal-human relationships in narratives about the creation and operation of these home-places. Chapter 1 analyses narratives constructed around the settlement of Iceland, examining LandnĂĄmabĂłk and stories about settlement in the ĂslendingasĂ¶gur, as well as modern archaeological interpretations of the AĂ°alstrĂŠti house. It argues that medieval Icelanders presented settlement as a tripartite exchange between humans, domestic animals, and the land; a representation at odds with recent archaeological interpretations. Chapter 2 reconstructs the legal regulation of animal-human relations in GrĂĄgĂĄs. It demonstrates that these laws encourage a demarcated legal landscape, in which domestic animals were to be controlled, protected, and punished;
animal_human relation household farm viking_age medieval iceland studies animal_human relation old norse world often_focus symbolic economic relation animal contrast investigate_relationship domestic_animal human household farm express law material_culture iceland demonstrates complexity animal_human relation form sustain household farm shape admiration anxiety express towards animal animal_human relationship narrative creation operation home places analysis narratives construct around settlement iceland examine story settlement well modern archaeological_interpretation house argues medieval present settlement tripartite exchange human domestic_animal land representation odds recent_archaeological interpretation reconstructs legal regulation animal_human relation demonstrates law encourage legal landscape domestic_animal control protect punish