Ellen Kathrine Friis

• Mjærum, Axel Johan; Kirchhefer, Andreas Joachim; Friis, Ellen Kathrine; Grøndahl, Finn Audun & Gunnarson, Björn (2024). Medieval fishing and abandonment: A dendrochronological investigation of a 14th-century stationary fishing trap in Lake Nord-Mesna, in the interior of Scandinavia. Fornvännen. ISSN 0015-7813. 2024(1), p. 25–44. doi: 10.62077/R0KF8N.QJEQQN. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Fishing in rivers and lakes has traditionally been a longstanding and dependable means of sustenance for the people of inland Scandinavia. However, our understanding of pre-modern fishing traditions has been hampered by a lack of written sources, as well as a scarcity of archaeological data. However, a recent excavation and comprehensive dendrochronological analysis of a fish trapping enclosure system in Lake Nord-Mesna (520 masl.), in the boreal forests of inland Norway, has provided unique insight into freshwater fishing traditions, techniques and organization. The excavated structure, believed to be a fish weir with lath screen traps set into shallow water, was established in the late 1200s. In the following years it was regularly maintained in the spring/early summer. The last documented repair was in 1343. Its abandonment is interpreted as resulting from a recession likely induced by factors such as plague and climatic deterioration, that affected inland areas of Scandinavia in the 1300s. These results provide archaeological evidence of medieval utilization of effective enclosure traps in the region. This contradicts the prevailing notion that this form of fishing was later introduced by Forest Finns who migrated to the area in the 17th century. In addition, the findings give new and significant information about the organization and practice of medieval fishing in inland Scandinavia.

• Mjærum, Axel; Friis, Ellen Kathrine & Lie, Ragnar Orten (2022). Sagn og fremgravd «virkelighet» om Vonde-Sveinung og den ihjelslagne dvergen Fegge. Viking. ISSN 0332-608X. LXXXVI, p. 93–112. doi: 10.5617/viking.9859. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  A legend tells the dramatic and colourful story of the farmer Sveinung the Cruel and how he killed a dwarf (in Norwegian tusse/dverg) named Fegge in his smithy at the farm Heggtveit in Kviteseid, Norway. In the story the smithy is positioned below the hill Smiuberget (lit. Smithy Hill). In 2020, a relatively well-preserved smithy from the 13th century was excavated at the place described in the legend. The discovery offered a unique opportunity to explore the complex and dynamic relationship between the rich record of Norwegian folklore, excavated “reality” and the history of place names. Because of this complexity, the authors argue that to seek the “real” roots of the legend is a difficult and maybe also a meaningless task. Rather, they argue that the history of Fegge`s death and other legends are valuable sources to immaterial aspects of the region’s Medieval and Renaissance metal crafting.

• Mjærum, Axel & Friis, Ellen Kathrine (2016). Epilog. Noen pessimistiske tanker om tilstanden til kulturminnene ved våre fjellvann. In Mjærum, Axel & Wammer, Elling Utvik (Ed.), Fjellfiske i fortiden. Årtusener med svømmende rikdom. Portal forlag. ISSN 9788283140781.
• Bjørkli, Birgitte; Friis, Ellen Kathrine; Mjærum, Axel & Wammer, Elling Utvik (2016). Prolog. Tesse – et arkeologisk eldorado og en innfallsport til fjellfisket som et tverrfaglig tema. In Mjærum, Axel & Wammer, Elling Utvik (Ed.), Fjellfiske i fortiden. Årtusener med svømmende rikdom. Portal forlag. ISSN 9788283140781.

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• Bergstøl, Jostein & Friis, Ellen Kathrine (2020). Jegerne ved Olstappen. Fronsbygdin. ISSN 1504-3436. p. 140–149.
• Mjærum, Axel; Friis, Ellen Kathrine & Skogstrand, Lisbeth (2020). Noen pessimistiske tanker om tilstanden til kulturminnene i regulerte vann. In Skogstrand, Lisbeth (Eds.), Arkeologiske undersøkelser i vassdrag. Faglig program for Midt- og Nord-Norge. Riksantikvaren. ISSN 978-82-7574052-4. p. 197–205.
• Mjærum, Axel; Friis, Ellen Kathrine; Martens, Vibeke Vandrup & Skogstrand, Lisbeth (2020). Erosjon i vannkraftmagasinene - et frislipp av naturkreftene. In Skogstrand, Lisbeth (Eds.), Arkeologiske undersøkelser i vassdrag. Faglig program for Midt- og Nord-Norge. Riksantikvaren. ISSN 978-82-7574052-4. p. 194–195.
• Bergstøl, Jostein; Bjørkli, Birgitte; Vihovde, Trond; Ruset, Hildegunn Maria Haanes & Friis, Ellen Kathrine (2013). Arkeologi langs Vinstravassdraget.

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