PNM vol. 20:3 Husebyer - status quo, open questions and perspectives

Since the early 20‘h century the more than 130 hamlets or farms in Scandinavia and Orkney known by the name ‘Husaby’, ‘Huseby’, ‘Husby’, ‘Husebø’ etc. have been a key topic in historical, archaeological and onomastic research into the Viking Age and early Medieval Period, closely linked to the discussion of kingship and political administration.

In particular, the frequent use of the place name ‘Huseby’, their uneven distribution with the highest densities in Viken and Trondelag (Norway) and in Uppland (Sweden), and the use of husaby(r) as an appellative in some early written sources have led to the understanding of the majority of the Husebyer as places with a royal background. As such, the Husebyer have in many cases been used as a substantial argument in theses on the administrative and economic structure of royal power in the Viking Age and the early Medieval Period and in theories about early state formation in Scandinavia and areas settled by Scandinavians. However, the precise dating of the Huseby place-names and thereby of a presumed Huseby-system is still not certain.

At numerous Huseby-locations in Sweden and Norway culture historical studies have revealed indications of power and centrality, such as impressive archaeological sites and ?nds and/or signi?cant place-names pointing to fealty and a pre-Christian cult. On the other hand, there are several examples of Husebyer that merely seem to represent small farms located on the periphery of more signi?cant locations or regions. At the present time, therefore, not all the Husebyer seem to have had the same value or background.

While the Huseby-places have been relatively well studied in Sweden and Norway, they have so far not attracted equal attention in Denmark. On the other hand, the Danish Husebyer have been subject to analyses in the very recent past, and as a prelude to plans for a systematic investigation of the Danish Husebyer in conjunction with those in Sweden, Norway and Orkney in the coming years, the National Museum Jelling Project in March 2014 invited a group of scholars to take part in a two-day interdisciplinary workshop in Copenhagen. The aim was to focus on the current status quo of the Huseby-research and identify core targets for the future. The participants were therefore encouraged to suggest new paths of research, whether historical, onomastic or archaeological.

We hope that the included articles will contribute to an understanding of the diversity amongst the Husebyer and offer inspiration to scholars to embark upon new Huseby projects.