Materialitet som aktant. Stonehenge, Mossen och Lindholm Høje - tre exempel på aktanter för liminalitet och begravningspraktik i tre olika tidsperioder

Abstract

The purpose is to examine three materialities: Stonehenge, bogs (represented by Gullåkra, Rævmose, Aukamper Moor) and stone ships at Lindholm Høje. By focusing on their actantial function in relation to liminality and burial practises, the study aims at contributing with new interpretations of materiality, actants and liminality. Three main objectives are explored concerning how the chosen materialities can be considered as actants for liminality; how these actants relate to design and emotional charge; and what new interpretations are presented concerning materiality – actants – burial practises. Using concepts such as liminality, design and emotional charge from a general michroarchaeological perspective the study has reached two major conclusions: ▪ Materialities can be considered as living actants with a two-folded function: 1) representing the agents collective voice, and 2) functioning as co-actors in the relational movement leading to seriality and hybridization. This process involves reciprocity and change of perspectives. ▪ The study introduces a dislocation of nodalpoints concerning the discourse of how to approach bogs and their function. The new nodalpoint focuses on the shift from low-status to high-status individuals in the context of sacrifice. These conclusions call for further studies elaborating the specific function of relational movement in a more extended context involving other materialities than those presented in this study