Riksantikvarieämbetet

Programme for the project "The medieval town : Implications of early urbanization for modern planning"

In Sweden as in many other countries urban archaeology is confronted with many problems. In many cases early culture layers have disappeared through recent redevelopment schemes in the central parts of towns. The still existing remains are threatened in the same way. On the other hand, as a result of the lack of knowledge regarding the recovered archaeological material, it has not been possible to use it fully whether in research into urban history or for antiquarian purposes.

The aim of the project presented in this programme is to make a detailed survey and documentation of the situation of urban archaeology and its implications for physicalplanning and make a scholarly evaluation of the uncovered material. It will of course be necessary to take into consideration other research concerning the rise and development of towns in the Middle Ages. On the basis of this work the project will throw light on the problems and draw up the general outlines for further studies (chapter 2) .

The project deals mainly with those places which obtained town rights in the formal legal sense during the Middle Ages. Besides, some specialized studies are planned, on the one hand on early centres of trade and on the other on questions of method concerning archaeology in post-medieval towns (chapter 3.2).

The main task of the project is to record existing archaeological material and such information as makes it possible to determine the original topography, that is the level on which the first buildings were erected. For each of the towns concerned a map of areas with destroyed earlylevels will be worked out so as to make it possible to decide where future excavations can be carried out.

The recorded material will be used to discuss generalproblems of urban archaeology which have particular relevance for practical work in this field, and also to throw light on the conditions determining the development in the places in question. A third main part of the project deals with questions concerning documentation and reports of field-work. One aim will be to achieve highest possible degree of comparability between the sites (chapter 3.3).

The project is planned to continue for four years and is connected to Riksantikvarieämbetet och Statens Historiska museer (The Central Board of National Antiquities and the Museums of National, Numismatic, and Mediterranean Antiquities).

The results will be published in the series of reports issued by Riksantikvarieämbetet och Statens historiska museer.