Layers of Life: An Archaeological Biography of Mosetet Farm, Central Norway

Sammendrag

This article presents a detailed archaeological reconstruction of household life at Mosetet Farm, a rural dwelling in Central Norway occupied between ca. AD 990 and 1250. Drawing on spatially recorded artefact distributions, architectural features, and formation process theory, the study examines domestic activities across three distinct phases: habitation, abandonment, and post-abandonment. The material culture includes food-related items, textile tools, and imported goods, offering insights into gendered labor, subsistence strategies, and household organization. Formation process theory is employed to interpret spatial patterns and temporal developments in household practices, contributing to broader debates on rural lifeways, social continuity, and the archaeology of deserted farms in medieval Scandinavia. By interpreting the house as a biographical entity, the article explores how material traces reflect both continuity and rupture in rural medieval life. The findings situate Mosetet within broader Scandinavian settlement patterns and contribute to discussions on rural resilience and the archaeology of everyday life.