Papers by Thor Bjørn Arlov
Norsk polarinstitutt eBooks, 1994
Историческая география, Dec 30, 2022
Шпицбергенский трактат от 9 февраля 1920 г. передал Норвегии полный суверенитет над «архипелагом ... more Шпицбергенский трактат от 9 февраля 1920 г. передал Норвегии полный суверенитет над «архипелагом Шпицберген». Так называлась эта арктическая территория в то время. Через пять лет, принимая суверенитет, Норвегия изменила официальное название архипелага на «Свальбард». В какой мере изменение названия стало символом национальных интересов или даже откровенного национализма? В настоящей статье содержится обзор происхождения и использования топонимов Шпицберген и Свальбард в свете картографии и номенклатуры данной территории; особое внимание уделено национальной тенденциозности; вкратце обсуждаются различные практики и принципы наименования географических объектов. Высказано предположение, что, хотя изменение в 1924–1925 гг. официального названия Шпицберген на Свальбард было отчасти продиктовано правомерными практическими соображениями, прежде всего оно являлось политическим актом создания национальных связей с новообретенной территорией. При том что оно воспринималось как часть процесса «норвегизации» северных регионов, само по себе изменение названия не было рассчитано на возбуждение реакции со стороны зарубежных стран, а скорее льстило норвежскому населению. The treaty of 9 February 1920 granted Norway full sovereignty over the ‘Archipelago of Spitsbergen’, by which name this Arctic territory was known at the time. Assuming sovereignty five years later, Norway altered the official name to ‘Svalbard’. To what extent was the name-change a token of national interests or even blatant nationalism? This paper outlines the origin and usage of the place-names Spitsbergen and Svalbard in light of the area’s mapping and nomenclature and with an emphasis on national bias. It briefly discusses the different practices and principles of geographical naming. This paper proposes that the change in official nomenclature from Spitsbergen to Svalbard in 1924–1925, though partly due to justifiable practical considera-tions, was primarily a political act to construct national bonds with the newly won territory. Although perceived as part of a ‘Norwegianization’ process in the northern regions, the name-change itself was not intended to provoke foreign reactions, but rather to satisfy a domestic audience.
Illustrasjonene er hentet fra C. G. Zorgdrager: Bloyende Opkomst der Aloude en Hedendaggsche Groe... more Illustrasjonene er hentet fra C. G. Zorgdrager: Bloyende Opkomst der Aloude en Hedendaggsche Groenlandsche Visschery (Amsterdam 1720) og B. Aagaard: Den gamle hvalfangst (Oslo I 933) (omslagsbilde). Kartene er hentet fra F. C. Wieder: The Dutch discovery and mopping of Spitsbergen (Amsterdam 1919). Forord Denne utgaven av Svalbard 1596-1650 i historiografisk lys er identisk med min hovedoppgave i historie, levert ved Universitetet i Trondheim våren 1986. Gjennom forskningsarbeidet på det NAVF-støttede prosjektet Svalbards historie 1596-1814 ved Historisk institutt i Trondheim, har jeg kommet over materiale som kan stille enkelte sider av boken i nytt lys. Likevel har jeg valgt å ikke foreta endringer i manuskriptet på dette tidspunkt, siden det ville medføre uforholdsmessig mye arbeid og forsinke utgivelsen ved Polarinstituttet. Noter er plassert etter hvert kapittel, unntatt i Del 3, hvor de finnes etter hvert underkapittel. Notene til introduksjonen, Del 1, er plassert etter kapittel 1.4. Mye av den litteraturen som er benyttet i arbeidet, er vanskelig tilgjengelig og er enten lånt fra forskjellige biblioteker eller lest på stedet. Dette har gjort det vanskelig å gjennomgå det samlede materiale i sin helhet. Det har derfor vaert umulig å dobbeltsjekke notene i den grad som kunne ha vaert ønskelig. Transkripsjon av russiske navn og titler er gjort i henhold til internasjonal fonetisk standard. Nederlandske navneformer er stort sett beholdt i sin opprinnelige form. Oversettelser fra russisk, fransk og hollandsk er jeg selv ansvarlig for. Engelsk og tysk tekst er vanligvis ikke oversatt. Geografiske navn på Svalbard følger retningslinjene i «Place-Names of Svalbard», Norsk Polar institutt Skrifter 80. Spitsbergen betegner den største av øyene i Svalbard-gruppen når ikke annet blir presisert.
Poljarnyj vestnik
At the outbreak of the First World War there was virtually no Norwegian coalmining activity on th... more At the outbreak of the First World War there was virtually no Norwegian coalmining activity on the Spitsbergen archipelago. The handful of small coal companies that were formed in Norway around the turn of the century were either idle or had been bought up by foreign interests after a few years. During the war, however, several new private companies were established, most notably the Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani in 1916. Two years later, in 1918–1919, the Norwegian government stated its desire to acquire full sovereignty over the archipelago. The wish was granted by the treaty of 9 February 1920 that came as a result of the peace negotiations in Paris. This paper reviews the role of the Norwegian coal companies in Norway’s quest for supremacy over Svalbard during and after the First World War. Were private enterprises an instrument of the Norwegian government’s ambitions or was it the other way around? It is argued that private companies were instrumental in moving the politi...
The Sorgfjorden project, an archaeological research expedition, was conducted between the 8th and... more The Sorgfjorden project, an archaeological research expedition, was conducted between the 8th and the 20th of July, 2017. The expedition documented remains from a Russian-Swedish geodetic expedition during 1898-1902 in the area around Sorgfjorden on northeastern Spetsbergen, Svalbard. Traditional documentation methods were combined with new technologies in order to fulfill the expedition's goals. Archival and printed materials were collected and studied in preparation for the expedition. The project was carried out by researchers from Sweden and Norway with experience in research in the polar regions.
The Sorgfjorden project, an archaeological research expedition, was conducted between the 8th and... more The Sorgfjorden project, an archaeological research expedition, was conducted between the 8th and the 20th of July, 2017. The expedition documented remains from a Russian-Swedish geodetic expedition during 1898-1902 in the area around Sorgfjorden on northeastern Spetsbergen, Svalbard. Traditional documentation methods were combined with new technologies in order to fulfill the expedition's goals. Archival and printed materials were collected and studied in preparation for the expedition. The project was carried out by researchers from Sweden and Norway with experience in research in the polar regions.
The Sorgfjorden project, an archaeological research expedition, was conducted between the 8th and... more The Sorgfjorden project, an archaeological research expedition, was conducted between the 8th and the 20th of July, 2017. The expedition documented remains from a Russian-Swedish geodetic expedition during 1898-1902 in the area around Sorgfjorden on northeastern Spetsbergen, Svalbard. Traditional documentation methods were combined with new technologies in order to fulfill the expedition's goals. Archival and printed materials were collected and studied in preparation for the expedition. The project was carried out by researchers from Sweden and Norway with experience in research in the polar regions.
Nordlit, 2020
The treaty of 9 February 1920 granted Norway full sovereignty over the ‘Archipelago of Spitsberge... more The treaty of 9 February 1920 granted Norway full sovereignty over the ‘Archipelago of Spitsbergen’, by which name this Arctic territory was known at the time. Assuming sovereignty five years later, Norway altered the official name to ‘Svalbard’. To what extent was the name-change a token of national interests or even blatant nationalism? This paper outlines the origin and usage of the place-names Spitsbergen and Svalbard in light of the area’s mapping and nomenclature and with an emphasis on national bias. It briefly discusses the different practices and principles of geographical naming. This paper proposes that the change in official nomenclature from Spitsbergen to Svalbard in 1924–1925, though partly due to justifiable practical considerations, was primarily a political act to construct national bonds with the newly won territory. Although perceived as part of a ‘Norwegianization’ process in the northern regions, the name-change itself was not intended to provoke foreign reacti...
Polar Record, 2017
ABSTRACTThe University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) is a unique institution with a history that is c... more ABSTRACTThe University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) is a unique institution with a history that is closely related to Norwegian policy regarding Svalbard, and to clever development of a highly specialised Arctic university institution by all the Norwegian universities. In practical terms, Norwegian sovereignty on the archipelago as confirmed by the Treaty of Svalbard of 1920 and regulated by the Svalbard Law of 1925, is maintained by the presence of Norwegian civil authorities and communities. Today, the “capital” Longyearbyen with its 2100 inhabitants is a modern hub for industry, education, research, logistics and tourism. Founded in 1993, UNIS has become a main contributor to this community, generating some 20% of the total economic activity. A prime motivation for establishing UNIS was to provide a supplement and alternative to the unprofitable, heavily subsidized coal mining industry, by using the location for research based education. In 2015, the mining company Store Norske Spit...
In one of A.A. Milne’s books about Winnie-the-Pooh Christopher Robin takes his good friend the be... more In one of A.A. Milne’s books about Winnie-the-Pooh Christopher Robin takes his good friend the bear on an expedition:2 «We’re going to discover the North Pole.»
Acta Borealia, 2005
ABSTRACT The chronology of the earliest history of Svalbard (Spitsbergen) has been, and still is,... more ABSTRACT The chronology of the earliest history of Svalbard (Spitsbergen) has been, and still is, a controversial issue in historiography, partly due to inconclusive evidence and lack of sources that open up for different interpretations, but also because of particular interests in this contested region. This survey of a dozen important works shows that historiography reflects the changing national interests in Svalbard over time and the variations in intensity of political debate. By 1920, three different history traditions had established themselves with regard to the question of discovery and early exploitation: the Norwegian “Viking hypothesis”, the Russian “Pomor hypothesis” and the nationally more neutral “Barentsz hypothesis”. While Barentsz’ discovery in 1596 is generally accepted as a historical fact, the hypotheses about earlier visits have proved strikingly resilient. The “archaeological turn” around 1970 introduced a fourth hypothesis, the possibility of a Stone Age settlement, and also hopes that new material evidence would finally solve the question of chronology. This has not happened; archaeological research has augmented historiography, but not caused a fundamental shift in positions and interpretations – national historical traditions remain influential.
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Papers by Thor Bjørn Arlov