Tropes and Isotopes: A Relational Approach to Mobility in the Nordic Bronze Age

This paper introduces the concept of multi-locality as a relational approach to past gendered mobility and identities. Multi-local individuals are identified through strontium isotope analyses when the isotopic ratios are seen to change over the course of an individual life. The study is focused on the social institutions intersecting with mobility and a wish to examine how mobility is related to age and gender in multi-local individuals. A focus on when and why mobility occurs in life adds a much-needed social perspective on mobility to supplement the current dominating focus on provenance. By introducing five cases of multi-local individuals from the Nordic Bronze Age, it is demonstrated that several social institutions could cause age-related gendered mobility patterns. It is proposed that many of these institutions were shared between the gender categories of female and male, such as marriage, fosterage, trade and socio-political mobility (e.g. ritual activity and xenia). In conclusion, it is suggested that additional kinship models could be considered for the Nordic Bronze Age in addition to the predominantly accepted model of patrilocal exogamy.

Automated summary

This paper introduces the concept of multi-locality as a relational approach to examining past gendered mobility and identities. It identifies multi-local individuals through strontium isotope analyses, highlighting how isotopic ratios change over an individual's lifetime. The study focuses on the intersection of social institutions and mobility, seeking to understand the relationship between mobility, age, and gender in multi-local individuals. By presenting five cases from the Nordic Bronze Age, the paper demonstrates how various social institutions could cause age-related gendered mobility patterns. It suggests that alternative kinship models should be considered in addition to the prevailing model of patrilocal exogamy during the Nordic Bronze Age.