Splendid Isolation

Beskrivelse

Set in 12,800 BP, Europe is dominated by the Upper Magdalenian culture-except for one distinct area in southern Scandinavia. This region stands apart from the rest of the continent during this period.

An in-depth exploration of late Ice Age forager societies and the effects of a volcanic eruption on cultural change.

Splendid Isolation presents the first comprehensive study of the cultural evolution of late Ice Age hunter-gatherers living at Europe's northern frontier. Drawing on over a decade of research, Felix Riede links the massive eruption of the Laacher See volcano in what is now western Germany to significant cultural shifts in the region.

The book delves into how this volcanic event impacted the environment-affecting plants, animals, and human populations-and examines the broader cultural and historical consequences that followed. Despite the eruption’s harsh ecological effects, Riede introduces the concept of 'splendid isolation' to explain how this disaster sparked a vibrant cultural bloom known as the Bromme culture in southern Scandinavia.

By tracing this ancient catastrophe, the author also highlights how studying past disasters can inform modern discussions about resilience, vulnerability, and the potential for societal collapse.

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