ABSTRACT

There is an important difference between archaeology and folklore concerning the attitude towards time. While dating and chronology are essential in archaeology, they are of minor importance in folklore tradition. There it is not generally the date that matters, but the place and the meaning of an object such as an ancient monument. To understand the archaeological focus on time it is necessary to adopt a historical perspective. At the period of the establishment of archaeology as a modern science, time was used as a means of disciplining in society in general as well as in archaeology. Professionals within the newly formed archaeological discipline focused on chronological systematisation and considered folklore to be superstition without scientific value. This attitude prevailed for more than a century. Today, however, due to

postmodern influences archaeologists are interested in the multitude of meanings that may be invested in the past, including those found in folklore traditions.