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Birger Nerman

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Birger Nerman
Born(1888-10-06)6 October 1888
Norrköping, Sweden
Died22 August 1971(1971-08-22) (aged 82)
Stockholm, Sweden
NationalitySwedish
Spouse
Zelma Nerman
​
(m. 1932)​
Academic background
Alma mater
Academic work
Discipline
Institutions
Main interestsSweden and the eastern Baltic in the Iron Age

Birger Nerman (6 October 1888 – 22 August 1971) was a Swedish philologist, archaeologist, historian, author and civic leader best known for his pioneering research on the archaeology of Iron Age Sweden and the eastern Baltic.

Early life and education

Birger Nerman was born in Norrköping, Sweden on October 6, 1988.[1] He was the son of Janne Nerman, a bookseller, and Ida Nordberg.[2]

Nerman became a student at Uppsala University in 1907, where he gained his PhD in 1913 with the dissertion Svärges hedna litteratur, which was concerned with the Ynglingatal.[2] Among his professors at Uppsala were Knut Stjerna, who left a strong influence on him.[3]

Early career

Together with Stjerna and later Oscar Almgren, Nerman increasingly became in involved in archaeological research Iron Age Sweden. Through combining philological and archaeological evidence, Nerman sought to gain further insight into the history and culture of Iron Age Sweden. Nerman's work in this regard won him widespread acclaim among Swedish archaeologists such as Oscar Montelius, and philologists. He participated in excavations at Gamla Uppsala, Vendel and Adelsö. [1] Excavations at Gamla Uppsala were carried out together with Sune Lindqvist.[3] Since 1914, Nerman became increasingly involved with archaeological excavations in Gotland and the Baltic states. The connection between these two areas during the Iron Age became a subject of great interest to him.[1] Nerman's works on the archaeology of Iron Age Gotland, many of whom were co-written with Almgren, have remained very influential.[1]

At Uppsala University, Nerman was appointed Assistant Professor in 1917, and Docent in 1919.[2] During this time Nerman lectured on Nordic philology, with particular focus on the sagas. He gained a filosofie licentiat in prehistory in 1918.[1]

Research in the eastern Baltic

From 1923 1925, Nerman was Professor of Archaeology at the University of Dorpat, during which he laid the foundations for modern archaeology in Estonia.[2] Nerman's years at Dorpat would prove instrumental for his future scholarship. He conducted archaeological research at Izborsk, Estonia in 1924.[1] Combined with his duties at the University of Dorpat, Nerman wrote a number of works on Swedish history intended for a popular audience. In Sveaväldet (1923) and Det svenska rikets uppkomst (1925), Nerman argued that the Swedes had a powerful state and engaged in extensive colonizing ventures in the eastern Baltic as early as the Vendel Period.[1]

In 1929-1930, Nerman led excavations at Grobiņa, Latvia. The results of the excavations were published in Die Verbindungen zwischen Skandinavien und dem Ostbaltikum in der jüngeren Eisenzeit (1929). Nerman believed that Grobiņa had been founded as a Gotlandic colony, and that it was identical to the town of Seeburg mentioned by Rimbert in Vita Ansgarii. The finds at Grobiņa encouraged Nerman to conduct further research at Apuolė and Wiskiauten in 1931.[1]

Director of the Swedish History Museum

After his return from Dorpat, Nerman worked for the Swedish History Museum, where he served as Director from 1938 to 1954. As Director, Nerman supervised the renovation of the museum building, and organized a number of successful exhibitions. He spent much efforts at making the collections at the museum as accessible to the public as possible. He combined his duties at the museum with engagements as a author and public speaker.[1]

Nerman was very active in organizations working towards the preservation of Sweden's national heritage, serving as Secretary (1929-1939) and Chairman (1939-1969) of the Swedish Antiquarian Society. Since his days as a university professor in Estonia, Nerman held a strong fondness for the Baltic states and its peoples. He played a leading role in establishing the Baltic Institute, and was the founding Chairman of the Baltic Committee. He was a tireless advocate for the independence of the Baltic states and rights of Balts and Estonians.[1] During World War II, Nerman actively participated in anti-Nazi and anti-communist organizations.[3]

Last years

Nerman retired from the Swedish History Museum in 1954. During his last years, he wrote a number of works of great importance on Swedish archaeology. Nerman died in Stockholm on 22 August 1971.[1] He was survived by two daughters and several grandchildren.[4]

Personal life

Nerman married Zelma Nerman on 21 January 1932.[1]

Selected works

  • Studier över Svärges hedna litteratur (1913)
  • Die Herkunft und die frühesten Auswanderungen der Germanen (1924)
  • Die verbindungen zwischen Skandinavien und dem Ostbaltikum in der jüngeren eisenzeit (1929)
  • Nerman, Birger (1932). "The Grobin Finds' Evidence of the First Incorporation of Gotland Under the Svea Kingdom". Acta Archaeologica. III: 157–167. ISSN 0065-101X. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Die Völkerwanderungszeit Gotlands (1935)
  • Gamla Upsala : Svearikets hjärtpunkt (1943)
  • Tiotusen àr i Sverige (1945)
  • Nerman, Birger (1948). "Sutton Hoo – en svensk kunga- eller hövdinggrav?" (PDF). Fornvännen (in Swedish). 48 (3): 65–93. ISSN 0015-7813. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help) Open access icon
  • Nerman, Birger (1953). "Ett hjälmfragment, sannolikt från mellersta Sverige" (PDF). Fornvännen (in Swedish). 48: 123–124. ISSN 0015-7813. {{cite journal}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help) Open access icon
  • Grobin-Seeburg; Ausgrabungen und Funde xii, 200 pages illustrations, 61 plates, maps. Stockholm, Almqvist & Wiksell (1958) OCLC 18565106
  • Nerman, Birger (1975). Die Vendelzeit Gotlands (I:1): Text. Monographien Herausgegehen von der Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien. Vol. 55. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell. ISBN 91-7402-016-1. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  • Nerman, Birger (1969). Die Vendelzeit Gotlands (II): Tafeln. Monographien Herausgegehen von der Kungliga Vitterhets Historie och Antikvitets Akademien. Vol. 48. Stockholm: Almqvist & Wiksell. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)

See also

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Stjernquist 1987, p. 528.
  2. ^ a b c d Karling 1971.
  3. ^ a b c Baudou 2002, pp. 81–82.
  4. ^ Holmqvist 1971.

Sources

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