Artifacts

Definition

Artifacts are objects made or used by humans, typically of historical or cultural significance, that provide insights into past societies and their ways of life. They can include tools, pottery, clothing, and art, which help to illustrate the daily activities, beliefs, and technologies of the people who created them. In the context of Norse exploration and settlement, artifacts reveal the practices, interactions, and adaptations of the Norse as they established themselves in new territories.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Artifacts from Norse settlements in North America, like L'Anse aux Meadows, provide evidence of Viking exploration around 1000 CE.
2. Common Norse artifacts include tools made from iron and bone, pottery, shipbuilding materials, and everyday household items that showcase their craftsmanship.
3. The study of artifacts helps historians and archaeologists understand not just Norse society but also their interactions with Indigenous peoples.
4. Artifacts can reveal information about trade networks established by the Norse as they traveled across different regions.
5. Through analysis of artifacts, researchers have been able to piece together the lifestyle, diet, and cultural practices of the Norse during their explorations.

Review Questions

• How do artifacts contribute to our understanding of Norse exploration and settlement?
  • Artifacts play a crucial role in shedding light on Norse exploration and settlement by providing tangible evidence of their daily lives, technologies, and interactions with other cultures. For instance, tools and household items found at Norse sites indicate what activities were important to them and how they adapted to new environments. By studying these objects, historians can reconstruct not only the practical aspects of their existence but also insights into their beliefs and social structures.
• What types of artifacts have been discovered at Norse sites in North America, and what do they indicate about Norse life during that time?
  • At Norse sites like L'Anse aux Meadows, various artifacts such as iron tools, pottery fragments, and remnants of structures have been uncovered. These findings indicate that the Norse engaged in agriculture, crafted tools for fishing and hunting, and constructed homes for living in a new environment. The diversity of artifacts reflects their adaptability and the merging of Viking customs with local practices as they settled into North America.
• Evaluate the significance of artifacts in understanding the broader impacts of Norse exploration on Indigenous populations in North America.
  • Artifacts are significant for evaluating the impacts of Norse exploration on Indigenous populations because they provide evidence of interaction between these two cultures. Items like trade goods found at excavation sites can illustrate economic exchanges that occurred. Moreover, analyzing changes in artifact styles or material usage can reveal how Indigenous peoples may have adapted to or influenced Norse practices. This interconnectedness helps paint a comprehensive picture of cultural dynamics during a transformative period in North America's history.

Related terms

Archaeology: The scientific study of human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts, structures, and other physical remains.

Viking Age: The period from the late 8th century to the early 11th century characterized by Norse exploration, trade, and settlement across Europe and beyond.

Cultural Heritage: The legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society inherited from past generations.