Hag Mountain: A History of the Absence of Witch Memorials in Kristiansand, Norway (or, why Kristiansand is not Salem)

Abstract: Many places in the world memorialize witch trials through sculptures, shops, and lore. Kristiansand in Norway does not. Despite its violent history of witch-burnings, little attention has been given and no official place of remembrance exists. Why? I begin by examining the role of Indigenous struggles in the history of Norwegian witch-hunts, especially how the killings of Sámi shamans during the period complicates the narrative. Second, I introduce the case of ‘Hag Mountain’ in Kristiansand, a well-documented site of burnings. Finally, I analyze the lack of memorials, and what this might mean for spiritual practitioners in Norway and Sápmi today.

Presenter bio: 

Camilla is Associate Professor in History at the University of Agder in Norway. She specialises in 20th and 21st histories and cultures of menstruation. Her interests include feminist art history and art projects, medical humanities, feminist Science & Technology Studies, Norwegian/Sámi art histories, and the archetype of the witch.

Affiliation: University of Agder, University of St Andrews, University of Aberdeen