Birger Nerman
Encyclopedia
Birger Nerman was a Swedish
archaeologist, professor, and author.
. He was the son of Janne Nerman (1844–1920), the bookseller in Norrköping
, and his wife Anna Ida Nordberg. Born in Norrköping, Birger was the younger brother of the Swedish Communist leader Ture Nerman
and the twin brother of the artist Einar Nerman
.
in 1917 and in 1920. In 1923 he became professor in archeology at the University of Dorpat
(Tartu, Estonia). There he led the excavations of Izborsk
(1924) and Grobin in Latvia (1929), among other early medieval sites.
In 1925 the Swedish Armed Forces
published his The Rise of the Swedish Realm (Det svenska rikets uppkomst) in which Nerman argued that the formation of the Swedish state
had been completed by the 8th century, that it was the direct continuation of the "powerful Svea
kingdom" mentioned by Tacitus
, and that Sweden with its history of two millennia held senior rank among the existing nations of Europe.
In 1938, Nerman became the head of the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities
, a position he held until 1969. In 1946, he became a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Letters
. Between the years 1967–1970, he was chairman of the Swedish Chamber of the World Anti-Communist League
.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
archaeologist, professor, and author.
Background
Birger Nerman belonged to a bourgeois family Nerman (Nehrman) from VimmerbyVimmerby
- External links :* - Official site* - Theme Park...
. He was the son of Janne Nerman (1844–1920), the bookseller in Norrköping
Norrköping
Norrköping is a city in the province of Östergötland in eastern Sweden and the seat of Norrköping Municipality, Östergötland County. The city has a population of 87,247 inhabitants in 2010, out of a municipal total of 130,050, making it Sweden's tenth largest city and eighth largest...
, and his wife Anna Ida Nordberg. Born in Norrköping, Birger was the younger brother of the Swedish Communist leader Ture Nerman
Ture Nerman
Ture Nerman was a Swedish socialist. As a journalist and author, he was a well-known political activist in his time. He also wrote poems and songs.Nerman was a vegetarian and a strict teetotaler...
and the twin brother of the artist Einar Nerman
Einar Nerman
Einar Nerman was a Swedish artist. He was born and grew up in middle class family in the working-class city of Norrköping and was the younger brother of the Swedish Communist leader Ture Nerman...
.
Career
Birger Nerman taught as a temporary professor at Uppsala UniversityUppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in 1917 and in 1920. In 1923 he became professor in archeology at the University of Dorpat
University of Tartu
The University of Tartu is a classical university in the city of Tartu, Estonia. University of Tartu is the national university of Estonia; it is the biggest and highest-ranked university in Estonia...
(Tartu, Estonia). There he led the excavations of Izborsk
Izborsk
Izborsk is a rural locality in Pechorsky District of Pskov Oblast, Russia. It contains one of the most ancient and impressive fortresses of Western Russia....
(1924) and Grobin in Latvia (1929), among other early medieval sites.
In 1925 the Swedish Armed Forces
Swedish Armed Forces
The Swedish Armed Forces is a Swedish Government Agency responsible for the operation of the armed forces of the Realm. The primary task of the agency is to train, organize and to deploy military forces, domestically and abroad, while maintaining the long-term ability to defend the Realm in the...
published his The Rise of the Swedish Realm (Det svenska rikets uppkomst) in which Nerman argued that the formation of the Swedish state
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
had been completed by the 8th century, that it was the direct continuation of the "powerful Svea
Svea
Svea is a Swedish female name. The name was a very popular girls' name during the first half of the 20th century. It may also refer to:*Mother Svea, the Swedish national emblem.*Svea, Svalbard, a mining settlement*Svea, Florida*Svea, Minnesota...
kingdom" mentioned by Tacitus
Tacitus
Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a senator and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories—examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those who reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors...
, and that Sweden with its history of two millennia held senior rank among the existing nations of Europe.
In 1938, Nerman became the head of the Swedish Museum of National Antiquities
Swedish Museum of National Antiquities
Swedish Museum of National Antiquities is a museum located in Stockholm, Sweden that covers Swedish cultural history and art from the Stone Age to the 16th century...
, a position he held until 1969. In 1946, he became a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Letters
Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities
The Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities also called simply the Royal Academy of Letters, abbreviated KVHAA is the Swedish royal academy for the Humanities.Its many publications include the archaeological and art historical journal Fornvännen, published since 1906.The Academy...
. Between the years 1967–1970, he was chairman of the Swedish Chamber of the World Anti-Communist League
World Anti-Communist League
The World League for Freedom and Democracy is an international anti-communist political organization founded in 1966 in Taipei, Republic of China , under the initiative of Chiang Kai-shek. It was founded with the aim of opposing Communism around the world through "unconventional" methods...
.
Selected works
- Die Vendelzeit Gotlands (1969)
- Grobin-Seeburg; Ausgrabungen und Funde (1958)
- Tiotusen àr i Sverige (1945 )
- Gamla Upsala : Svearikets hjärtpunkt (1943)
- Die Völkerwanderungszeit Gotlands (1935)
- Die verbindungen zwischen Skandinavien und dem Ostbaltikum in der jüngeren eisenzeit (1929)
- Die Herkunft und die frühesten Auswanderungen der Germanen (1924)
- Studier över Svärges hedna litteratur (1913)