Dynamics of Northern Societies

The prehistory and early history of the northern societies – from the Palaeo-Eskimo pioneers to the Viking Norse Settlers - is unfolding through archaeological and historical research and through interdisciplinary studies including natural sciences. The more insight that we have gained on Arctic and North Atlantic archaeology the more we have realized how diverse and dynamic these societies were and how complex their histories are.

The international conference 'Dynamics of Northern Societies' arranged by SILA – the Greenland Research Centre at the National Museum of Denmark in collaboration with the NABO network was held during May 10^th –14^th, 2004, at the Nordatlantens Brygge and the National Museum in Copenhagen.

The proceedings of the conference represent selected and peer-reviewed papers from sessions dealing with: New approaches to dynamic analysis of Palaeo-Eskimo artefacts; Interaction with the environment; Dynamics of small scale societies; Architecture and social organization of space in Palaeo-Eskimo and Inuit contexts; Origins and spread of the Palaeo-Eskimo and Inuit cultures; Demography, death and burials; Living with things; Trade and exchange; and Focal places.