This thesis concerns the Gotlandic hill-forts (sw. fornborg) situated on a cliff or in an elevated position and which traditionally have been referred to as cliff-forts (sw. klintborg/höjdborg). The study derives from the notion that these monuments, diverse in size and shape, by archaeologists have been viewed and treated as a homogeneous category of ancient remains. The author’s key aim is to challenge this perception by identifying various subcategories from the 28 cliff-forts on the island. Ever since the archaeological discipline initiated the study of cliff-forts in the late 1800s and more or less to present day, the interpretations have been almost solely dominated by explanations of the military and defendable nature of them. As a reaction towards this rather single handed view, research influenced by the so called post-processual archaeology in the 1990s and early 2000s emphasized on the mental and ritual aspects of these remains. Although these later studies stimulated a field of research which with few exceptions had been sleeping for some time, the author claims that neither one of the approaches could in a satisfactorily way portrait these complex monuments. A midway between these schools is thus desirable, where the dissimilarities of the remains are considered.Based on the quite spare but existing local archaeological data, complemented by interregional records from Sweden mainland (Mälardalen and Östergötland), the author identifies and describes three separate types of remains within the material: Type 1) a fortified farmstead from the Migration period; Type 2) a defensive con-struction from the Roman Iron Age; and Type 3) a cultic enclosure from the Bronze Age/Early Iron Age. When approaching a field of research with this amount of inherited pre-understandings it is vital to be aware of earlier works, and in a critical manner process them. An important step in this is to reflect upon which terms are used in the discourse. In particular, the phrases hill-fort/cliff-fort is rather unsuitable due to its connotation to fortification and other military issues. Furthermore, the author points out that there is a connection between the preconceptions of archaeological features and the later antiquarian recording of it, which in turn may affect the methodological approach if excavated, and indeed the subsequent interpretation.

This essay studies the funnel-beaker ceramic in connection with the megalith graves in South Scandinavia. In my work I have described the nature of ceramics and looked on the crockery types and ornamentation and then discussed the use of the material in a ritual perspective. In the first part I have focused on the critical aspects you have to think about when you do a study like this one. In the second part of this essay I have done a case study, with the ceramic material, in three passages graves in the area of Falbygden, Western Sweden and studied the ceramic material and the nature of it in South Scandinavia as well. Then in the third I discussed the potential use, there is two, of the ceramic material in general of South Scandinavia and looked at it in a ritual perspective.

The survey takes its starting point in a critical evaluation of recent phenomenological approaches to rock art in landscape studies, foremost the works of Chris Tilley. The purpose is to present a phenomenological theory, based on the philosophy of Maurice Merleau-Ponty, which includes both motives, places and landscapes in a holistic interpretation. Bronze age rock art around Motala ström and the city of Norrköping is used to exemplify the theoretical discussion. When presenting the framework, emphasis is being laid on the bodily experience of rock art and place through the process of phenomenological intersubjectivity.

The social elite on Öland and in Möre in the south east of Sweden during the Iron Age is described on the basis of the archaelogical record, such as graves, settlements and traces of pre-Christian central places. The material is discussed to see if traces of an elite are to be found. The power configuration between Öland and Möre is also discussed.

The conversion in the Viking Age and the High Middle Agea in Scandinavia and how this affected women is discussed. Did women get a better life when the people had converted to Christianity or not. Our written sources are later than the conversion to Christianity. Instead the material culture, graves, grave goods and runic stones, can help us understand the life of women. Nordic mythology presents a contrast between faith in the Viking Age and Christianity.

The market communication in organisations is vital to manage the competition. Studies have shown the importance of market communication in both private and public organisations. Since the past decade market communication has been acknowledged as an instrument to provide the organisations target group with valid information. This thesis is a study about the differences in market communication between private and public organisations. To manage this we asked ourselves the question: “- What distinguish the market communication in a private respective a public organisation?” We have done qualitative interviews to get the best result for our study. We have interviewed both types of organisations and our respondents have leading strategic position in their organisations. Our research highlights important differences between private and public organisations in matter of tactics in market communication. In conclusion the result shows a great difference in how an organization is managing their communicative strategies all depending on if it is a private owned company or a public organisation.

Detta arbete innebär en grund till en arkeologisk guide över fornlämningar i Alvesta kommun, Kronobergs län.

The subject for this essay considers the trade with amber and how it was organized in Scandinavia during the early Nordic Bronze age. There is very little written about this subject. One of the few scholars that have done this is the archeologist Timothy Earle. He has done this generally from a material that comes from the world of the living, mostly settlements. I will compare his view with a grave material that are based on Aner & Kersten Die Ältere Bronzezeit (2001, band 11). My own conclusion is that Timothy Earls view corresponds well with the grave material

This essay consider ritual death during the ironage, and through a presentation of historical and archaeological sources. Considered ritual death I think we should study both historical and archaeological sources, to get a vider view and a new perspective. To make the essay easier to understand I have split up the early and the late Iron Age in the discussion. In order to study the ritual death I have shown archaeological examples like bogsacrifices in the early ironage, and decapitated victims in the Viking society. The victims have been considered as slaves by some archaeologist. An example of this is the grave in Bollstanäs, Uppland, when archaeologist found a cremated male with personal equipment. They also found two beheaded males. Ove Hemmendorff imply that they were slaves, buried as gravegoods, and he based this opinion of drawing parallels with other similar graves, and to literary sources like Ibn Fadlans story.

This is a study of Prehistoric musical instruments from Scandinavia and the different meanings they could have had in the Prehistoric society. I have described the different types of possible music instruments and the different categories that they belong to. I have also written about their different functions that could have been for example ritual artefacts, shamanic tools or useful instruments in hunting. Two case studies are also presented in the essay, the Falköpingsflute and the Balkåkradrum.