#christianization

#christianization

Imperial Roman ethnography was a gift the Romans made for themselves, because it embraced concepts with which they could address the great cultural diversity of their world. It was a gift that came from the conquerors, reflecting their supposition of preeminence. At the same time, Roman ethnography was a somewhat less welcome present for the many peoples who found themselves trapped in Rome's vision, needing to find a place within it that made sense to Roman demands.

Archaeologists in Denmark have uncovered more than 50 skeletons during an excavation in central Aarhus, offering new insight into the city's earliest Christian past. The discovery comes from work led by Moesgaard Museum at a historic burial ground once located on the edge of the medieval town. The excavation is taking place in St. Oluf's Street (Sankt Olufs Gade), close to what were once the defensive ramparts of Aros, the Viking settlement that grew into modern Aarhus.

The entry of Central Europe into history defies straightforward assumptions; some connections will probably remain forever hidden behind the abyss of time, while for others, conjecture will have to suffice.