Paleo-botany: the study of prehistoric plants, such as seeds and pollen.

Archaeology: the study of prehistoric people through material cultures. Archaeology is a field of social science but employs other natural sciences as part of scientific research. 

Written sources:

Texts that have been preserved for posterity. In connection with medieval food culture this can be: 

• Cookbooks
• Laws
• Runic inscriptions

Osteology: the study of bones.

The Bjarkey Law: the oldest version of this law applied to Trondheim (central Norway) and can be traced back to the 11th century. The preserved version is dated to the 12th century. This law shows that the towns had been legally separated from the surrounding countryside. 

The Frostathing Law: A law that applied to great parts of Trøndelag (central Norway). The law was written sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries. The versions we have today are dated to the 13th century.

The Gulathing Law: A law that applied to great parts of western Norway. Likely, these laws go as far back as the 10th century. 

The State Law: 1274. A law made by Magnus the Law-Mender that applied to the whole country. 

The Town Law: 1276. A law made by Magnus the Law-Mender that applied to the medieval town of Bergen at first. It was later revised and then applied to all the Norwegian medieval towns. 

Time Periods

The Viking Age: 790 – ca. 1050 A.D. 

The Norwegian Middle Ages: the period after the Viking Age; ca. 1050 A.D and up to the reformation of the Church in 1537. 

• Early Middle Ages: ca. 1050-1130 A.D.
• High Middle Ages: 1130-1350 A.D.
• Late Middle Ages: 1350-1537 A.D. 

This time period is recognized by major societal changes: the introduction of Christianity, the emergence of permanent towns, closer contacts abroad, and the centralization of royal power. 

1537 → After the Reformation of the Church.