Kvinnors roller i vikingatiden : utifrån exemplet Birka och skriftliga källor

Sammanfattning: This essay discusses the issue of the role of women and also whether they could obtain a strong social position during the Viking Age. Moreover, it does discuss the question of how frequent women were present in Viking Age scriptures, art and archaeological artefacts in comparison to our view of women and her position in the modern society. The archaeological material used is in majority that found in Birka, such as burial and habitational findings. These objects, as well as other comparable and similar findings from other places, when put together with written sources, show that women had different roles in the society. She was able to have a strong social role during the Viking Age not only because of the status her family had but also because of her own merit depending of her skills and ability. The archaeological findings found in female graves and other findings in the area, suggest a specializing within both textile production and trade for the women. This does not mean that all women began working in textile outside the home. Instead, most of this suggests that women in fact worked within their household to provide for the families? needs for textile and food. If skilful in these matters she could expand the production as a profession. Women who worked and were skilful at this and earned a reputation were buried with the objects and tools that earned her the reputation and honour whether it was within trade, textile, cooking or any other field of work.