Søren M. Sindbæk
Lecturer

Profile

Biography

Søren Michael Sindbæk, MA (Copenhagen), PhD (Aarhus) is a medieval archaeologist specialising in Viking Age Scandinavia. His research focuses on cultural communication, exchange and social networks in Early Medieval Northern Europe, and on the application of network theory and analysis to archaeological problems.

Søren, a Dane, joined the department as Lecturer in January 2009, intending to put down the sword and take up the trowel in the land of the Northumbrians. Previously he was assistant professor in Viking Studies at the University of Aarhus, Denmark.

When Søren isn't networking with the Vikings, he pursues sundrie kindes of music to the dismay of the muses (whence his family seeks to keep him busy).

Research

Overview

Søren's interests concentrate on the development of trade and urbanism, cultural boundaries and intersections, but also include the strong ties of communities, assemblies, households and dependencies. He aims to develop methods adapted from complex systems modelling and network analysis to improve archaeology's ability to analyse relational aspects of material culture and thus to explore issues of cross-cultural interaction in the past.

His studies involve a broad range of material culture, from monuments and buildings to coins, ornaments and daily life objects, but issues in particular from the rich record of settlement sites brought to light in recent years. He has taken part in field-work in many sites Denmark, Norway and Russia.

Current projects

ENTREPOT: Maritime Network Urbanism in Global Medieval Archaeology

Crafting Networks in Viking Towns

Publications

Selected publications

  • B. Poulsen & S. M. Sindbæk (eds.) 2012, Settlement and Lordship in Viking and Early Medieval Scandinavia. The Medieval Countryside 9 (Turnhout: Brepols)
  • J. Graham-Campbell, S. M. Sindbæk, and G. Williams (eds.) 2011, Silver Economies, Monetisation & Society in Scandinavia, 800-1100 (Aarhus: Aarhus University Press)
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2010, 'Re-assembling regions. The social occasions of technological exchange in Viking Age Scandinavia.', in Randi Barndon, Ingvild, Øye & Asbjørn Engevik (eds.) The Archaeology of Regional Technologies: Case Studies from the Palaeolithic to the Age of the Vikings. Edwin Mellen Press.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2010, 'Close ties and long range relations: the emporia network in early Viking-Age exchange', in J. Sheehan & D. Ó Corráin (eds.) The Viking Age: Ireland and the West. Proceedings of the XVth Viking Congress, Cork. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 430-440.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2009, 'Open access, nodal points, and central places. Maritime communication and locational principles for costal sites in South Scandinavia, 400-1200 AD', Estonian Journal of Archaeology 13:2, 96-109.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2009. 'The Lands of Denemearc. Cultural difference and Social Networks in Viking Age Scandinavia', Viking and Medieval Scandinavia 4, 169-208.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2008. 'Local and long distance exchange', in Brink, S. with Price, N. (eds.) The Viking World, New York & London: Routledge, 150-158.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2008. 'Routes and long-distance traffic - the nodal points of Wulfstan's voyage', in Englert, A. & Trakadas, A. (eds.) Wulfstan's Voyage. The Baltic Sea region in the Early Viking Age as seen from shipboard. Roskilde: the Viking Ship Museum, 72-78.
  • Sindbæk, S.M., Mikkelsen, P. & Moltsen, A.S.A. 2008. 'Tæbring, NW Denmark, AD 600-1100. An archaeological and archaeobotanic study ', Acta Archaeologica 79, 79-109.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2007. 'The Small World of the Vikings. Networks in Early Medieval Communication and Exchange', Norwegian Archaeological Review 40, 59-74.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2007. 'Networks and nodal points. The emergence of towns in Early Viking Age Scandinavia', Antiquity 81, 119-132.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2006. 'Viking Age Wolin and Baltic Sea Trade. Proposals, Refusals, and Engagements', in Hansen, K.M. & Pedersen, K.B. (eds.) Across the western Baltic , Sydsjællands Museum, Vordingborg, 267-281.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2005. ' Ruter og rutinisering. Vikingetidens Fjernhandel i Nordeuropa' , [summary in English: Routes and Routinization. Viking Age Long-Distance Trade in Northern Europe], Multivers Academic, Copenhagen, 356 pp.
  • Sindbæk, S.M. 2003. 'An object of exchange. Brass-bars and the routinization of Viking Age long-distance exchange in the Baltic area', Offa , 58, 49-60.


Full publications list

Book

  • 2005, Ruter og rutinisering. Vikingetidens Fjernhandel i Nordeuropa, [summary in English: Routes and Routinization. Viking Age Long-Distance Trade in Northern Europe], Multivers Academic, Copenhagen, 356 pp.

Edited books

  • In press, B. Poulsen & S. M. Sindbæk (eds.) Settlement and Lordship in Viking and Early Medieval Scandinavia. The Medieval Countryside 9 (Turnhout: Brepols)
    Including 2 papers:
    - B. Poulsen & S. M. Sindbæk: “Settlement and Lordship in Viking and Early Medieval Scandinavia”;
    - S.M. Sindbæk: “Social power and outland use in Viking Age settlement”
  • Gammeltoft, P., Sindbæk, S.M., Vellev, J. (red.) 2008, Regionalitet i Danmark i vikingetid og middelalder. Hikuin 35. Højbjerg: Forlaget Hikuin.
  • Jensen, P., Sindbæk, S.M., Vandkilde, H. (eds.) 2008, IX Nordic TAG. Århus: Institute of Anthropology, Archaeology and Linguistics.

Research Articles

  • 2010, “Re-assembling regions. The social occasions of technological exchange in Viking Age Scandinavia.”, in Randi Barndon, Ingvild, Øye & Asbjørn Engevik (eds.) The Archaeology of Regional Technologies: Case Studies from the Palaeolithic to the Age of the Vikings. Edwin Mellen Press.
  • 2010, "Close ties and long range relations: the emporia network in early Viking-Age exchange", in J. Sheehan & D. Ó Corráin (eds.) The Viking Age: Ireland and the West. Proceedings of the XVth Viking Congress, Cork. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 430-440.
    2009, “Open access, nodal points, and central places. Maritime communication and locational principles for costal sites in South Scandinavia, 400-1200 AD”, Estonian Journal of Archaeology 13:2, 96-109.
  • 2009, “The lands of Denemearce: Cultural differences and social networks of the Viking age in South Scandinavia”. Viking and Medieval Scandinavia 4, 169-208.
  • 2009 ”Tætte bånd og fjerne forbindelser - kommunikation og sociale netværk i vikingetidens Skandinavien”, in E. Roesdahl & J.P. Schjødt (eds.) Beretning fra syvogtyvende tværfaglige vikingesymposium, 43-66.
  • 2008 (with P.Gammeltoft), ”Historisk regionalitet på tværs af faggrænser”, in Gammeltoft, P., Sindbæk, S., Vellev, J. (eds.) Regionalitet i Danmark i vikingetid og middelalder. Hikuin 35. Højbjerg: Forlaget Hikuin, 7-14.
  • 2008, “Kulturelle forskelle, sociale netværk og regionalitet i vikingetidens arkæologi”, in Gammeltoft, P., Sindbæk, S., Vellev, J. (eds.) Regionalitet i Danmark i vikingetid og middelalder. Hikuin 35. Højbjerg: Forlaget Hikuin, 63-84.
  • 2008 (with P. Mikkelsen, & A.S.A. Moltsen), “Tæbring, NW Denmark, AD 600-1100. An archaeological and archaeobotanic study”, Acta Archaeologica 79, 79-109.
  • 2008, “Routes and long-distance traffic – the nodal points of Wulfstan’s voyage”. In: A. Englert & A. Trakadas (eds.) Wulfstan’s Voyage. The Baltic Sea region in the Early Viking Age as seen from shipboard. Roskilde: the Viking Ship Museum. 72-78.
  • 2008, “Local and long distance exchange”,in Brink, S. with Price, N. (eds.) The Viking World, New York & London: Routledge, 150-158.
  • 2007 (with P. Arthur). “Trade and Exchange”, in Graham-Campbell, J., Valor, M. (eds.), The Archaeology of Medieval Europe Vol. I, Århus: Aarhus University Press, 289-315.
  • 2007, "The Small World of the Vikings. Networks in Early Medieval Communication and Exchange", Norwegian Archaeological review 40:1, 59-74.
  • 2007, "Networks and nodal points. The emergence of towns in Early Viking Age Scandinavia", Antiquity 81, 119-132.
  • 2006, "Viking Age Wolin and Baltic Sea Trade. Proposals, Refusals, and Engagements", in Hansen, K.M. & Pedersen, K.B. (eds.) Across the western Baltic, Sydsjællands Museum, Vordingborg, 267-281.
  • 2003, "An object of exchange. Brass-bars and the routinization of Viking Age long-distance exchange in the Baltic area.", Offa, 58, 49-60.
  • 2003, "Varægiske vinterruter. Slædetransport i Rusland og spørgsmålet om den tidlige vikingetids orientalske import i Nordeuropa " [summary in English: Varangian winter routes and the question of early Viking Age Oriental imports in Northern Europe], Fornvännen, 98:3, 179-193.
  • 2000, "A Magyar Occurrence. Process, Practice and Ethnicity between Europe and the Steppes", Acta Archaeologica 70, 149-164.

Comments, reviews, and debate

  • 2009, ”Review of L. Grandin, E. Hjärthner-Holdar, P. Kresten, J. P. Lamm, K. Lamm, B. Magnus, O. Stilborg, A. Strinnholm, A. Söderberg & L. Kitzler-Åhfeldt: Excavations at Helgö XVII – Workshop Part III.”, Antiquity 83, 875-76.
  • 2009, “Review of J. Henning (ed.) Post-Roman Towns, Trade end Settlement in Europe and Byzantium”, Tidskriftet Historie 2009.
  • 2008, “Review of B. Ballin Smith, S. Taylor & G. Williams (ed.): West over Sea – Studies in Scandinavian Sea-Borne Expansion and Settlement Before 1300”, Tidskriftet Historie 2008.
  • 2008, "Review of G. Lock & B. L. Molyneaux (eds.) Confronting Scale in Archaeology: Issues of Theory and Practice ", European Journal of Archaeology, vol. 9 nr. 2/3, s. 315-317.
  • 2007, "Review of Dagfinn Skre (ed.): Kaupang in Skiringssal", Kuml 2007, 329-331.
  • 2007, " Review of Gitte Hansen: Bergen c 800-c 1170. The emergence of a town", Kuml 2007, 304-306.
  • 2006, "Review of J. Herrmann: Ralswiek auf Rügen. Die slawisch-wikingischen Siedlungen und deren Hinterland. Teil III - Die Funde aus der Hauptsiedlung.", Kuml 2006, 301-303.
  • 2006, "Review of V. Lang (red.): Culture and material culture.", Kuml 2006, 327-329.
  • 2005, "Popular myths and scholarly debate" [comment], Norwegian Archaeological Review, 38:2, 113-114.
  • 2005, "Review of B. Söderberg: Aristokratiskt rum och gränsöverskridande. Järrestad och sydöstra Skåne mellan region och rike 600-1100.", Kuml 2005, 341-342.
  • 2005, "Review of J. Jensen: Danmarks Oldtid. Yngre Jernalder 400 e.Kr.-1050 e.Kr.", Kuml 2005, 326-327.
  • 2004, "Centrale pladser og knudepunkter. Transport, geografi og ruter omkring vikingetidens handelspladser" Kontaktstencil 44, 159-164.
  • 2004, "Vikingerne erobrede Rusland i slæde", Illustreret videnskab 2004/12, 5.
  • 2004, "Review of G. Malcolm & D. Bowsher: Middle Saxon London. Excavations at the Royal Opera House 1989-99", Kuml 2004, 348-350.
  • 2004, "Review of Ingrid Gustin: Mellan Gåva och marknad", Kuml 2004, 319-322.
  • 2003, "Grav muren væk", Humanist, 22:1, 26-27.
  • 2003, "Review of S. Brather: Archäologie der westlichen Slawen", Kuml 2003, 296-298.
  • 2003, " Review of S. Kobylinski (ed.):  Quo vadis archaeologia", Kuml 2003, 304-306.

Miscellanea

  • 2010 “Vejen fra skandinavien til byzans - ad de russiske floder” [The road from Scandinavia to Byzantium – along the Russian rivers]. In Arven fra Byzans [The Byzantine heritage]. Aarhus: Sfinx.
  • 2008 (with H. Vandkilde), ”Globalization, Identity, Material Culture ... and Archaeology”, in P. Jensen, S.M. Sindbæk, & H. Vandkilde (eds.) IX Nordic TAG. Århus: Institute of Anthropology, Archaeology and Linguistics, 3-4.
  • 2006, "Dalhus. En Kongemoseplads ved Storåen og spørgsmålet om den mesolitiske indlandsbebyggelse i Jylland." [Dalhus. A Settlement of the Kongemose Period in the region of the Storå-river and the question of Mesolithic Inland Settlement in Jutland], in Eriksen, B.V. (ed.) Stenalderstudier, Aarhus University Press / Jysk Arkæologisk Selskab, Aarhus, 213-239.
  • 2003, "Slædefart", Skalk 2003:4, 20-31.
  • 2002, "Økonomisering", Skalk 2002:5, 10-12.
  • 2002, "Vandreblok." Holstebro Museums Årsskrift 2002, 5-12.
  • 2001, "Hvad blev der af Gudenåkulturen?", in:  Jensen, O.L.,  Hansen, K.M. og Sørensen, S.A. (eds.) Danmarks jægerstenalder. Status og perspektiver. Hørsholm Egns Museum, Hørsholm, 109-114.
  • 1999, "Den kortlagte oldtid. Therkel Mathiassens Holstebroundersøgelse 1948 – og nu. " Holstebro Museums Årsskrift 1999, 24-32.
  • 1998, "Mammendyret, Gräslifuglen og den madjariske hest. Østeuropa i Vikingetidens kunst og symboler" Spor 25, Trondheim, Norway, s. 8-11.
  • 1997, "Ældre stenalder ved Storåen." Holstebro Museums Årsskrift 1997, 23-33.

Teaching

External activities

Memberships

  • Chairman of the University of Aarhus' Centre for Viking and Medieval Studies 2006-2008

Awards

  • Awarded The Ben Cullen Prize 2008 by the Antiquity Journal for best paper published by a young author
  • Awarded the University of Copenhagen's gold medal 2002 for prize thesis (presented by HM Queen Margrethe II)
 

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Contact details

Dr Søren Sindbæk
Department of Archaeology
University of York
The King's Manor
York
YO1 7EP

Tel: (44)1904 323997
Fax: (44)1904 323902