‘The study of beliefs and emotions in early modern Sweden through graves’, with Jenny Nyberg
Thursday 1st March, 2012
1pm, Arts 2
Jenny Nyberg, MA in archaeology, BA in History, is an associate research student at the Centre of the History and Emotions, usually based at Stockholm University as a PhD Candidate in archaeology. Her research investigates beliefs, emotions and attitudes towards death in early modern Sweden (ca AD 1500-1800) by studying the material remains of acts performed during the burial ritual. By looking at how the dead body was prepared, dressed and adorned, and what objects were included with the dead in the coffin, we can study the metaphorical understandings of death and acts that were driven by beliefs and emotions. This paper aims at presenting the results of Nyberg’s research so far and also to invite to a discussion of the theoretical possibilities of tracing emotions and beliefs through an archaeological material i.e. the material traces of actions.