Accommodating Assemblies, as Evidenced at the 6th–11th-Century AD Royal Residence at Lake Tissø, Denmark

In the 6th and 7th centuries, large elite residences were established in Scandinavia. They differ from the earlier chieftain residences in size and apparent multi-functionality with respect to politics, religion, law and trade. Classic sites include Old Lejre and Tissø in Denmark, and Old Uppsala in Sweden. The growing dominions of the emerging petty-kings at this time presuppose control and cohesion in society, which is evidenced, among other things, by regular assemblies in which the population participated. Some of the larger accumulations of pit houses are here interpreted as assembly sites. Support for this interpretation is sought through analogy with church towns from the medieval and renaissance periods in northern Scandinavia. The pit house is thus interpreted as temporary accommodation for families or persons participating in different kinds of assemblies. Large assemblies emerged in the 6th century probably as a result of the elite’s increasing demand for control and communication.