Royal Society of Northern Antiquities

A learned society founded in Copenhagen in 1825 to promote the study of the antiquities, history, languages, and culture of the Nordic countries. Its early work was particularly concerned with collecting, translating, and publishing Old Norse and Icelandic literature, and with investigating Scandinavian archaeological remains. It played an important part in the development of Northern archaeology, including the classification of prehistoric remains into Stone, Bronze, and Iron Ages. Its publications were widely circulated internationally, including in Britain.