Stockholm University

Graduate Student, Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies

About

RESEARCH
Man and Death in the Early Modern Period
The purpose of my PhD project is to explore the attitudes towards death, and the relationship between the dead and the living, in early modern Sweden (AD 1500-1800) by studying the grave material. By looking at how the bereaved dressed, adorned and equipped the dead I hope to reach reactions and emotional attitudes towards death over time. The development in burial customs will be related to other material expressions such as epitaphs, grave monuments and written sources and furthermore be put in relation to the development in early modern society at large.

My research will include the expression of emotions and the relationship between the dead and the living through material practice, the body as materiality and changed perceptions of the body through time. To reach a full understanding of the burial customs I consider the use of a gender and lifecycle perspective necessary.

My aim is to produce a comprehensive study on the Swedish early modern practices of preparing the dead body for burial. I want to include all social groups in my work and therefore study graves both in churches and in church yards. It is my ambition that my work will facilitate and enrich the heritage management and the archaeological documentation of these graves in the future.

PRESENTATION
I have a master’s degree in archaeology and a bachelor’s degree in history from Stockholm University. Throughout my studies my main focus has been the early modern period. In addition to archaeology and history I’ve also studied art history, ethnology, criminology and project management within the cultural field. I’ve been working in the museum sector since 2005. At the open air museum of Skansen I was employed by the Department of Cultural History, working as an historical interpreter in the historical environments.  At The Museum of National Antiquities I held a position as project manager and archaeologist working with collections, exhibitions and culture heritage information on the web. Since 2009 I am a PhD student in archaeology at Stockholm University.

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