TRUSO - VIKING PORT OF TRADE ON THE SLAVIC-BALTIC BORDERLANDS
Channel: European Association of Archaeologists
Date: 2020-09-27

Truso, the early medieval port of trade, located in present Janów Pomorski, Northern Poland, is an example of settlements founded by the Scandinavians in Baltic Sea basin. Truso, as well as other scandinavian ports of trade (Seehandelsplatz), functioned mostly during Viking Age period, especially since late 8th to early beginnings of 11th century. More than thirty years of excavations and scientific development of Truso and its hinterland resulted the clear picture of great phenomena – scandinavian settlement located on the slavic-baltic borderlands. Furthermore the port of trade itself, beyond archaeological sources recognized as scandinavian, included a slavic and baltic objectual correlates of culture. Range of contacts indubitably shows highly developed network of cultural and economical contacts. Meaning of the discussed settlement was unique – I would like to prove that, it was a part of a larger system, which achieved economic success in whole Baltic Sea area. Scandinavian influence on the east of Elbe river was significantly different than on the west. While Scandinavians on the western and northern part of Europe based their activity on broadly speaking

conquests, the central-east part, was a place of peaceful contacts adjust to bring material profits. In terms of Wallerstein’s world system analysis theory we can assume that Truso was a core while slavic and baltic territory lead the role of the periphery. Common image of Vikings as a cruel warriors in case of Truso inhabitants should be rather considered as a ingenious traders.


Author(s): Jagodzinski, Jakub (The Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences)