ACTA UNIVERSITATIS OULUENSIS B Humaniora 168, 2018
The dissertation examines the settlement and interactions of the Late Iron Age communities of nor... more The dissertation examines the settlement and interactions of the Late Iron Age communities of northern Finland by focusing on the archaeological sites and finds documented in the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. The point of departure for the study is to understand the data from a local point of view as in the previous evaluations the hunter-gatherer population inhabiting the area has been overlooked with most of the discussions revolving around the peasant influence arriving from southwestern Finland and Karelia. Partially for this reason, the period in question has appeared problematic and many questions regarding the settlement remain unadressed.
The reason for the poor research situation articulates with the problems related to the archaeologica remains. Most of the material must be classified as so-called stray finds or archaeological objects to which no context can be determined without excavations taking place. These stray finds comprise the most significant portion of the available data, as besides them only a few burials, dwelling sites or other feasible remains are documented in Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. In spite of this, the research interest towards these finds has been relatively minor until recent years.
The research questions are approached via three case studies, which represent stray finds that were excavated during the research process of the dissertation. These sites are addressed by taking into consideration their form, function and dating as well as examining their archaeological context on a borader geographical scale. In addition to the case studies, the dissertation considers previously known sites and finds in the research area and elsewhere in the interior and northern Fennoscandia. Based on the study, it is argued that several stray finds are associated with burial sites, dwellings and other indicators of settlement whose formation process has likely been affected by local traditions and subsistence as well as contacts and interactions with other Iron Age communities.
Most European hunter-gatherers slowly assimilated into farming communities during the Neolithic p... more Most European hunter-gatherers slowly assimilated into farming communities during the Neolithic period. In the north these groups persisted far longer. In this paper, we present evidence from what may be one of the most recent non-agricultural sites in the region, where a marine hunter-gatherer lifestyle may have continued until as late as the 15th–16th centuries AD. The isotope composition of incremental dental analysis suggests a significant, long-term dependence on seals. This indicates that vestiges of this means of subsistence might have been present in Europe for much longer than previously thought.
Kulttuuriympäristöohjelmissa linjataan alueen tärkeimmät ihmisen muokkaaman ympäristön ominaispii... more Kulttuuriympäristöohjelmissa linjataan alueen tärkeimmät ihmisen muokkaaman ympäristön ominaispiirteet. Kulttuuriympäristöohjelmaa voidaan käyttää hyväksi päätöksenteossa sekä ohjeena kulttuuriympäristön suunnittelussa, kehittämisessä ja vaalimisessa. Ohjelma on työväline viranomaisille, asukkaille, yrittäjille, yhdistyksille ja kulttuurihistoriallisesti arvokkaiden kohteiden omistajille. Kulttuuriympäristöön kuuluvat arkeologinen kulttuuriperintö, perinnemaisemat, kulttuurimaisema ja rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö. Usein näiden erottaminen toisistaan on vaikeaa ja toisinaan samaa aluetta voidaan näkökulman mukaan tarkastella esimerkiksi kulttuurimaisemana tai rakennettuna kulttuuriympäristönä. Pohjois-Karjalan kulttuuriympäristöohjelmassa esitellään kulttuuriympäristöjen parissa työskenteleviä toimijoita, mahdollisten hankkeiden rahoituslähteitä, säädöspohjaa sekä tuodaan esiin maakunnan kulttuuriympäristöihin liittyviä tavoitteita ja toimenpiteitä. Lisäksi ohjelmassa esitellään Poh...
Sammandrag Lapplands sista marknad : arkeologi vid Kolarinsaari marknadsplats Marknaden på Kolari... more Sammandrag Lapplands sista marknad : arkeologi vid Kolarinsaari marknadsplats Marknaden på Kolarinsaari var den sista traditionella marknaden i Lappland. Marknaden hölls fram till 1880-talet. Marknadsplatsen låg på den sydliga spetsen av Kolarinsaari, där man också finner den gamla träkyrkan och begravningsplatsen. Nuförtiden lockar Kolari kommuns badstrand och Pókemon Go-spelets virtuella pokéstop besökare till platsen. Under utgrävningar som utfördes på Kolarinsaari sommaren 2018 framkom det att marknadsplatsen har legat norr om kyrkan vid det nordvästra hörnet av den nuvarande begravningsplatsen. En del av de äldre kulturlagren har hamnat under begravningsplatsen. Byggnadslämningar visar att det på platsen funnits marknadsbodar försedda med glasfönster och eldstäder, som revs då marknadsplatsen föll ur bruk. De fåtaliga föremålsfynden stöder platsens datering till 1800-talet. Djurbensmaterialet berättar om livliga handelskontakter särskilt med samiska handelsmän, som hämtade renk...
Sammanfattning Metallsökning som hobby : kritiska synvinklar och forskningssamarbete Metallsöknin... more Sammanfattning Metallsökning som hobby : kritiska synvinklar och forskningssamarbete Metallsökning med metalldetektorer har under de senaste åren blivit allt vanligare såväl i Finland som i övriga Europa. Det finns flera orsaker till att verksamheten ökat. I olika länder varierar lagstiftningen och praxisen från att vara ytterst begränsande till relativt fördragsam. I denna artikel behandlas metallsökningens ökade popularitet ur olika perspektiv, såväl utifrån ett fruktbart samarbete mellan metalldetektorister och forskare som genom otillåtna ingrepp och olaglig handel. Frågan om hur man kan lösa de problem som uppstår i samband med verksamheten är fortfarande öppen. Det finns dock tydligt ett behov av ökad information och utbildning. Det materiella kulturarvet är allas gemensamma arv, ej endast för amatörer och forskare idag, utan också för kommande generationer
This paper provides a case study of social development from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age on... more This paper provides a case study of social development from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age on the Bothnian Bay coast. The focus is on the burial site of Tahkokangas and the ancient Oulujoki river estuary in Finland. The archaeological record of the area is marked by numerous cooking pit and stone burial sites. By analysing the nature of the stone structures in Tahkokangas and the distribution of the surrounding sites, an attempt is made to see through the material remains into the community itself. In particular, aspects of social transformation such as the inner socio-political workings of the community are studied. The resulting interpretation is that the local community of the Oulujoki river was connected to a European-wide economic network, which acted as a catalyst for social stratification. Individuals who gained access to trade also gained prominence with their peers and rose in hierarchy to eventually establish their own political entity. Tahkokangas is interpreted as a ...
Abstract The dissertation examines the settlement and interactions of the Late Iron Age communiti... more Abstract The dissertation examines the settlement and interactions of the Late Iron Age communities of northern Finland by focusing on the archaeological sites and finds documented in the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. The point of departure for the study is to understand the data from a local point of view as in the previous evaluations the hunter-gatherer population inhabiting the area has been overlooked with most of the discussions revolving around the peasant influence arriving from southwestern Finland and Karelia. Partially for this reason, the period in question has appeared problematic and many questions regarding the settlement remain unadressed. The reason for the poor research situation articulates with the problems related to the archaeologica remains. Most of the material must be classified as so-called stray finds or archaeological objects to which no context can be determined without excavations taking place. These stray finds comprise the most significant portion of the available data, as besides them only a few burials, dwelling sites or other feasible remains are documented in Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. In spite of this, the research interest towards these finds has been relatively minor until recent years. The research questions are approached via three case studies, which represent stray finds that were excavated during the research process of the dissertation. These sites are addressed by taking into consideration their form, function and dating as well as examining their archaeological context on a borader geographical scale. In addition to the case studies, the dissertation considers previously known sites and finds in the research area and elsewhere in the interior and northern Fennoscandia. Based on the study, it is argued that several stray finds are associated with burial sites, dwellings and other indicators of settlement whose formation process has likely been affected by local traditions and subsistence as well as contacts and interactions with other Iron Age communities.Tiivistelmä Tutkimus tarkastelee Pohjois-Suomen myöhäisrautakautista asutusta ja väestön vuorovaikutussuhteita Pohjois-Pohjanmaan ja Kainuun maakuntien alueelta tunnettujen löytöjen ja kohteiden valossa. Tutkimuksen keskeisimpänä lähtökohtana on näiden teemojen hahmottaminen paikallisesta näkökulmasta, sillä monissa aikaisemmissa tulkinnoissa alueella asunut metsästäjä-keräilijäväestö on jäänyt kohtalaisen vähäiselle huomiolle keskustelujen keskittyessä Lounais-Suomesta ja Karjalasta tulleeseen talonpoikaisvaikutukseen. Osittain tästä syystä kyseinen aikakausi on pitkään näyttäytynyt ongelmallisena, eikä moniin alueen asutusta koskevaan kysymykseen ole voitu vastata. Syy myöhäisen rautakauden heikkoon tutkimustilanteeseen niveltyy arkeologiseen aineistoon liittyvään problematiikkaan. Valtaosa tutkimusalueelta talletetusta materiaalista on luettava niin kutsutuiksi irtolöydöiksi, eli arkeologisiksi esinelöydöiksi, jolle ei ilman kenttätutkimuksia ole mahdollista määrittää tarkkaa löytöyhteyttä. Irtolöydöt muodostavat merkittävän aineistokokonaisuuden, sillä niiden lisäksi Pohjois-Pohjanmaalta ja Kainuusta tunnetaan ainoastaan muutamia myöhäisrautakautisia asuinpaikkoja, hautoja tai muita arkeologisia kohteita. Tästä huolimatta, niihin kohdistunut tutkimuksellinen mielenkiinto on viimevuosiin saakka ollut pääosin vähäistä. Väitöskirja lähestyy aineistoa kolmen tapaustutkimuksen kautta. Tapaustutkimukset koostuvat kaivauksin tutkituista irtolöytökohteista sekä niiden lähiympäristön sekä laajemman arkeologisen kontekstin havainnoinnista. Kaivauksin tutkittujen kohteiden lisäksi tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan myös muuta myöhäiselle rautakaudelle ajoittuvaa aineistoa niin tutkimusalueella kuin sen lähialueilla. Tutkimuksen perusteella useat irtolöydöt voidaan liittää hautoihin, asuinpaikkoihin tai muihin asutuksesta kertoviin muinaisjäännöksiin, joiden muodostumisprosessiin ovat vaikuttaneet niin paikalliset traditiot ja elinkeinot kuin yhteydet ja vuorovaikutus muiden rautakautisten yhteisöjen kanssa
Equally disturbing for the critics has been the economic-deterministic approach of the theory and... more Equally disturbing for the critics has been the economic-deterministic approach of the theory and the following disregard of complexities of socio-political structures and their nuances, which may manifest for example as syncretism and creolisation (Webster 1997; 2005), bilateral borrowing and adaptation of cultural elements (Price 2002), selective adaptation, abandonment and re-adaptation of cultural elements (Webster 1999; Nurmi 2009; Kuusela et al. 2016) or simply as internal factors within a society that drive cultural change forward (Stein 1999; 2002). Put simply, the critics point out that the theory enforces a "one size fits all"-model on a sweeping manner ignoring local unique circumstances and resulting historical processes (McGuire 1996, 51; Galaty 2011, 4). Alternatives and amendments Colin Renfrew was among the early and arguably most famous critics of the use of the worldsystem theory in archaeological research, and he presented an alternative model, which he termed peer polity interaction (Renfrew 1986). Peer polity interaction, like world-system theory (from an archaeological perspective), tackles the problem of culture change and interregional interaction, and like world-system theory it, too, acknowledges that the latter is an integral part in these dynamics, and it shares with the world-system theory a systemic approach to the relations of human societies (McGuire 1996, 54). Where it significantly differs is that it does not acknowledge a power asymmetry or a dominative relationship between interacting parties but, like its name denotes, assumes such interactions take place between autonomous peers (Renfrew 1986, 1).
This article re-interprets the historical colonisation of the Bothnian Bay coastlands between app... more This article re-interprets the historical colonisation of the Bothnian Bay coastlands between approximately the 13th and 15th centuries AD. It is argued that this colonisation was a complex process because the archaeological evidence in the coastal area demonstrates a strong continuity of local customs far into the historical period, indicating a strong influence of local societies. With local cemeteries and other archaeological sites showing a strong local identity throughout the period while at the same time showing signs of consistent contacts and interaction with other regions, this article argues that the colonisation process was one of cooperation and negotiation and not conquest or the dislodgement of local communities by the colonists.
ABSTRACT The Late Iron Age of northern Finland is often approached through an ethnic perspective.... more ABSTRACT The Late Iron Age of northern Finland is often approached through an ethnic perspective. Archaeological sites are defined as local or foreign and, accordingly, linked to either Sámi or non-Sámi groups. In recent decades, the concept of transculturalism and mixing of cultural traits has been discussed by several researchers, and their work has shown that such categorizations can be questioned. Correspondingly, certain sites and artifacts found in the northern parts of Finland seem to relate to interactions and contacts instead of ethnic backgrounds. One such site was excavated at Viinivaara E in 2013 and 2014. Based on the fieldwork, the site can be linked to encounters and cultural exchange between local groups and visitors. The entangled nature of the site is understood by taking into consideration its location and landscape, but also by examining the archaeological and historical conception of Late Iron Age northern Finland in general. Further, transcultural dynamics present at the site are also tied to social development on a broader temporal and spatial scale.
Metal Age find locations, especially contextless stray finds, in northern Finland have long remai... more Metal Age find locations, especially contextless stray finds, in northern Finland have long remained a strange curiosity into which only few researchers have ventured. This is surprising, as starting from around AD 800 they form the largest archaeological group of an otherwise rather poorly known period. This paper approaches the subject through landscape archaeology and economic anthropology by seeking connections between find locations, other archaeological sites and topographical elements. Our study shows that Metal Age find locations are situated not only in a rich assemblage of sites stretching from the Stone Age to Historical times but also in a landscape with easily distinguishable landmarks such as islands and confluences. This suggests that artefact deposition in these areas is intentional and should thus be regarded as evidence of more specific human activity than has been previously assumed.
ABSTRACT The State of Sweden expanded its domains successfully towards the north during the medie... more ABSTRACT The State of Sweden expanded its domains successfully towards the north during the medieval period – particularly during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This expansion north from Norrland over the Bothnian coast and further into Lapland has traditionally been discussed within the classical colonial framework. In this paper, however, we argue that the Swedish northern expansion was actually more a result of successful negotiations between the State of Sweden and the northern Iron Age economic elite, leading to the peaceful integration of the northern social system(s) into the Swedish society. As a result of this process the concept of Birkarls – the traditional medieval trade elite of the north – appeared into Swedish historical documents. Recent research has brought forward evidence indicating that the Birkarl system harks back to the Iron Age northern social system, and that the medieval Birkarls were a direct continuation of the Late Iron Age trader society that was integrated and assimilated into the Swedish society during the early fourteenth century.
ABSTRACT Mortuary practices evident in the materiality of Central Fennoscandia in Northern Europe... more ABSTRACT Mortuary practices evident in the materiality of Central Fennoscandia in Northern Europe are interpreted here rather unconventionally as expressions of morality. This is defined as the culturally approved way to manage death, without scruples. The last seven millennia are set on a flat temporal scale in this paper, revealing contradictions between different ideologies and worldviews over that time. The ubiquitous themes that emerge are agency of place and the bond between fire, life, and death, along with the main criticism, which asserts that the overwhelming fear of the dead reported in the region during 2nd millennium may have been aggravated by Christian dogma. Thus, projecting similar notions of fear to local prehistoric burials is problematic and should be made with caution. The study acts as a reminder that archaeological interpretation is drawn from theory – the interpretational key – which affects both the hypotheses and the results. Changing the key may turn even an established interpretation on its head.
Vuonna 1997 julkaistussa paikallishistoriateoksessa Keminmaan historia silloinen Oulun yliopiston... more Vuonna 1997 julkaistussa paikallishistoriateoksessa Keminmaan historia silloinen Oulun yliopiston arkeologian lehtori Pentti Koivunen kuvailee Kemin Tervaharjulta löytyneen, säiläkirjoituksin koristetun myöhäisrautakautisen miekan katkelmaa. Ase on 62 cm pitkä, joskin kärjestään katkennut, ja säiläosaltaan noin 3,5 cm leveä. Lisäksi miekka on muiltakin osin hyvin huonossa kunnossa, eikä esimerkiksi väistimestä ole paljoakaan jäljellä. Koivunen esittää miekan ajoittuvan 1100-luvulle ja olevan siten yksi harvoista myöhäisrautakauden muinaislöydöistä Kemijokisuiston alueelta. Perusteita miekan ajoitukselle ei kuitenkaan tarjota. Poikkeuksellisuudestaan huolimatta esine ei kuitenkaan ole tähän päivään mennessä saanut juuri huomiota, eikä siitä esimerkiksi löydy mainintaa Museoviraston ylläpitämästä muinaisjäännösrekisteristä tai löytödiaarista (muinaiskalupäiväkirja). Näin ollen sen arkeologinen tuntemus on jäänyt hyvin vähäiseksi. Tästä syystä lieneekin aiheellista suoda tälle jo 1960-...
The State of Sweden expanded its domains successfully towards the
north during the medieval perio... more The State of Sweden expanded its domains successfully towards the north during the medieval period – particularly during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This expansion north from Norrland over the Bothnian coast and further into Lapland has traditionally been discussed within the classical colonial framework. In this paper, however, we argue that the Swedish northern expansion was actually more a result of successful negotiations between the State of Sweden and the northern Iron Age economic elite, leading to the peaceful integration of the northern social system(s) into the Swedish society. As a result of this process the concept of Birkarls – the traditional medieval trade elite of the north – appeared into Swedish historical documents. Recent research has brought forward evidence indicating that the Birkarl system harks back to the Iron Age northern social system, and that the medieval Birkarls were a direct continuation of the Late Iron Age trader society that was integrated and assimilated into the Swedish society during the early fourteenth century.
This article studies the medieval northern Fennoscandian trade network utilizing a macro-scale pe... more This article studies the medieval northern Fennoscandian trade network utilizing a macro-scale perspective—namely, the world-systems analysis—while still maintaining a decidedly local approach to the analysis. It is argued that local factors, formed of a synergy between social and natural components, created a situation where the trade network of northern Fennoscandia remained an unhierarchical peer network despite a seeming power asymmetry between the participants. This study demonstrates how a local analysis is always important even—and especially—when utilizing a macro-scale perspective, as assumptions (for example, pertaining to power asymmetries) may lead to misconceptions of the social forces in play within a social network.
ACTA UNIVERSITATIS OULUENSIS B Humaniora 168, 2018
The dissertation examines the settlement and interactions of the Late Iron Age communities of nor... more The dissertation examines the settlement and interactions of the Late Iron Age communities of northern Finland by focusing on the archaeological sites and finds documented in the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. The point of departure for the study is to understand the data from a local point of view as in the previous evaluations the hunter-gatherer population inhabiting the area has been overlooked with most of the discussions revolving around the peasant influence arriving from southwestern Finland and Karelia. Partially for this reason, the period in question has appeared problematic and many questions regarding the settlement remain unadressed.
The reason for the poor research situation articulates with the problems related to the archaeologica remains. Most of the material must be classified as so-called stray finds or archaeological objects to which no context can be determined without excavations taking place. These stray finds comprise the most significant portion of the available data, as besides them only a few burials, dwelling sites or other feasible remains are documented in Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. In spite of this, the research interest towards these finds has been relatively minor until recent years.
The research questions are approached via three case studies, which represent stray finds that were excavated during the research process of the dissertation. These sites are addressed by taking into consideration their form, function and dating as well as examining their archaeological context on a borader geographical scale. In addition to the case studies, the dissertation considers previously known sites and finds in the research area and elsewhere in the interior and northern Fennoscandia. Based on the study, it is argued that several stray finds are associated with burial sites, dwellings and other indicators of settlement whose formation process has likely been affected by local traditions and subsistence as well as contacts and interactions with other Iron Age communities.
Most European hunter-gatherers slowly assimilated into farming communities during the Neolithic p... more Most European hunter-gatherers slowly assimilated into farming communities during the Neolithic period. In the north these groups persisted far longer. In this paper, we present evidence from what may be one of the most recent non-agricultural sites in the region, where a marine hunter-gatherer lifestyle may have continued until as late as the 15th–16th centuries AD. The isotope composition of incremental dental analysis suggests a significant, long-term dependence on seals. This indicates that vestiges of this means of subsistence might have been present in Europe for much longer than previously thought.
Kulttuuriympäristöohjelmissa linjataan alueen tärkeimmät ihmisen muokkaaman ympäristön ominaispii... more Kulttuuriympäristöohjelmissa linjataan alueen tärkeimmät ihmisen muokkaaman ympäristön ominaispiirteet. Kulttuuriympäristöohjelmaa voidaan käyttää hyväksi päätöksenteossa sekä ohjeena kulttuuriympäristön suunnittelussa, kehittämisessä ja vaalimisessa. Ohjelma on työväline viranomaisille, asukkaille, yrittäjille, yhdistyksille ja kulttuurihistoriallisesti arvokkaiden kohteiden omistajille. Kulttuuriympäristöön kuuluvat arkeologinen kulttuuriperintö, perinnemaisemat, kulttuurimaisema ja rakennettu kulttuuriympäristö. Usein näiden erottaminen toisistaan on vaikeaa ja toisinaan samaa aluetta voidaan näkökulman mukaan tarkastella esimerkiksi kulttuurimaisemana tai rakennettuna kulttuuriympäristönä. Pohjois-Karjalan kulttuuriympäristöohjelmassa esitellään kulttuuriympäristöjen parissa työskenteleviä toimijoita, mahdollisten hankkeiden rahoituslähteitä, säädöspohjaa sekä tuodaan esiin maakunnan kulttuuriympäristöihin liittyviä tavoitteita ja toimenpiteitä. Lisäksi ohjelmassa esitellään Poh...
Sammandrag Lapplands sista marknad : arkeologi vid Kolarinsaari marknadsplats Marknaden på Kolari... more Sammandrag Lapplands sista marknad : arkeologi vid Kolarinsaari marknadsplats Marknaden på Kolarinsaari var den sista traditionella marknaden i Lappland. Marknaden hölls fram till 1880-talet. Marknadsplatsen låg på den sydliga spetsen av Kolarinsaari, där man också finner den gamla träkyrkan och begravningsplatsen. Nuförtiden lockar Kolari kommuns badstrand och Pókemon Go-spelets virtuella pokéstop besökare till platsen. Under utgrävningar som utfördes på Kolarinsaari sommaren 2018 framkom det att marknadsplatsen har legat norr om kyrkan vid det nordvästra hörnet av den nuvarande begravningsplatsen. En del av de äldre kulturlagren har hamnat under begravningsplatsen. Byggnadslämningar visar att det på platsen funnits marknadsbodar försedda med glasfönster och eldstäder, som revs då marknadsplatsen föll ur bruk. De fåtaliga föremålsfynden stöder platsens datering till 1800-talet. Djurbensmaterialet berättar om livliga handelskontakter särskilt med samiska handelsmän, som hämtade renk...
Sammanfattning Metallsökning som hobby : kritiska synvinklar och forskningssamarbete Metallsöknin... more Sammanfattning Metallsökning som hobby : kritiska synvinklar och forskningssamarbete Metallsökning med metalldetektorer har under de senaste åren blivit allt vanligare såväl i Finland som i övriga Europa. Det finns flera orsaker till att verksamheten ökat. I olika länder varierar lagstiftningen och praxisen från att vara ytterst begränsande till relativt fördragsam. I denna artikel behandlas metallsökningens ökade popularitet ur olika perspektiv, såväl utifrån ett fruktbart samarbete mellan metalldetektorister och forskare som genom otillåtna ingrepp och olaglig handel. Frågan om hur man kan lösa de problem som uppstår i samband med verksamheten är fortfarande öppen. Det finns dock tydligt ett behov av ökad information och utbildning. Det materiella kulturarvet är allas gemensamma arv, ej endast för amatörer och forskare idag, utan också för kommande generationer
This paper provides a case study of social development from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age on... more This paper provides a case study of social development from the Late Bronze and Early Iron Age on the Bothnian Bay coast. The focus is on the burial site of Tahkokangas and the ancient Oulujoki river estuary in Finland. The archaeological record of the area is marked by numerous cooking pit and stone burial sites. By analysing the nature of the stone structures in Tahkokangas and the distribution of the surrounding sites, an attempt is made to see through the material remains into the community itself. In particular, aspects of social transformation such as the inner socio-political workings of the community are studied. The resulting interpretation is that the local community of the Oulujoki river was connected to a European-wide economic network, which acted as a catalyst for social stratification. Individuals who gained access to trade also gained prominence with their peers and rose in hierarchy to eventually establish their own political entity. Tahkokangas is interpreted as a ...
Abstract The dissertation examines the settlement and interactions of the Late Iron Age communiti... more Abstract The dissertation examines the settlement and interactions of the Late Iron Age communities of northern Finland by focusing on the archaeological sites and finds documented in the regions of Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. The point of departure for the study is to understand the data from a local point of view as in the previous evaluations the hunter-gatherer population inhabiting the area has been overlooked with most of the discussions revolving around the peasant influence arriving from southwestern Finland and Karelia. Partially for this reason, the period in question has appeared problematic and many questions regarding the settlement remain unadressed. The reason for the poor research situation articulates with the problems related to the archaeologica remains. Most of the material must be classified as so-called stray finds or archaeological objects to which no context can be determined without excavations taking place. These stray finds comprise the most significant portion of the available data, as besides them only a few burials, dwelling sites or other feasible remains are documented in Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. In spite of this, the research interest towards these finds has been relatively minor until recent years. The research questions are approached via three case studies, which represent stray finds that were excavated during the research process of the dissertation. These sites are addressed by taking into consideration their form, function and dating as well as examining their archaeological context on a borader geographical scale. In addition to the case studies, the dissertation considers previously known sites and finds in the research area and elsewhere in the interior and northern Fennoscandia. Based on the study, it is argued that several stray finds are associated with burial sites, dwellings and other indicators of settlement whose formation process has likely been affected by local traditions and subsistence as well as contacts and interactions with other Iron Age communities.Tiivistelmä Tutkimus tarkastelee Pohjois-Suomen myöhäisrautakautista asutusta ja väestön vuorovaikutussuhteita Pohjois-Pohjanmaan ja Kainuun maakuntien alueelta tunnettujen löytöjen ja kohteiden valossa. Tutkimuksen keskeisimpänä lähtökohtana on näiden teemojen hahmottaminen paikallisesta näkökulmasta, sillä monissa aikaisemmissa tulkinnoissa alueella asunut metsästäjä-keräilijäväestö on jäänyt kohtalaisen vähäiselle huomiolle keskustelujen keskittyessä Lounais-Suomesta ja Karjalasta tulleeseen talonpoikaisvaikutukseen. Osittain tästä syystä kyseinen aikakausi on pitkään näyttäytynyt ongelmallisena, eikä moniin alueen asutusta koskevaan kysymykseen ole voitu vastata. Syy myöhäisen rautakauden heikkoon tutkimustilanteeseen niveltyy arkeologiseen aineistoon liittyvään problematiikkaan. Valtaosa tutkimusalueelta talletetusta materiaalista on luettava niin kutsutuiksi irtolöydöiksi, eli arkeologisiksi esinelöydöiksi, jolle ei ilman kenttätutkimuksia ole mahdollista määrittää tarkkaa löytöyhteyttä. Irtolöydöt muodostavat merkittävän aineistokokonaisuuden, sillä niiden lisäksi Pohjois-Pohjanmaalta ja Kainuusta tunnetaan ainoastaan muutamia myöhäisrautakautisia asuinpaikkoja, hautoja tai muita arkeologisia kohteita. Tästä huolimatta, niihin kohdistunut tutkimuksellinen mielenkiinto on viimevuosiin saakka ollut pääosin vähäistä. Väitöskirja lähestyy aineistoa kolmen tapaustutkimuksen kautta. Tapaustutkimukset koostuvat kaivauksin tutkituista irtolöytökohteista sekä niiden lähiympäristön sekä laajemman arkeologisen kontekstin havainnoinnista. Kaivauksin tutkittujen kohteiden lisäksi tutkimuksessa tarkastellaan myös muuta myöhäiselle rautakaudelle ajoittuvaa aineistoa niin tutkimusalueella kuin sen lähialueilla. Tutkimuksen perusteella useat irtolöydöt voidaan liittää hautoihin, asuinpaikkoihin tai muihin asutuksesta kertoviin muinaisjäännöksiin, joiden muodostumisprosessiin ovat vaikuttaneet niin paikalliset traditiot ja elinkeinot kuin yhteydet ja vuorovaikutus muiden rautakautisten yhteisöjen kanssa
Equally disturbing for the critics has been the economic-deterministic approach of the theory and... more Equally disturbing for the critics has been the economic-deterministic approach of the theory and the following disregard of complexities of socio-political structures and their nuances, which may manifest for example as syncretism and creolisation (Webster 1997; 2005), bilateral borrowing and adaptation of cultural elements (Price 2002), selective adaptation, abandonment and re-adaptation of cultural elements (Webster 1999; Nurmi 2009; Kuusela et al. 2016) or simply as internal factors within a society that drive cultural change forward (Stein 1999; 2002). Put simply, the critics point out that the theory enforces a "one size fits all"-model on a sweeping manner ignoring local unique circumstances and resulting historical processes (McGuire 1996, 51; Galaty 2011, 4). Alternatives and amendments Colin Renfrew was among the early and arguably most famous critics of the use of the worldsystem theory in archaeological research, and he presented an alternative model, which he termed peer polity interaction (Renfrew 1986). Peer polity interaction, like world-system theory (from an archaeological perspective), tackles the problem of culture change and interregional interaction, and like world-system theory it, too, acknowledges that the latter is an integral part in these dynamics, and it shares with the world-system theory a systemic approach to the relations of human societies (McGuire 1996, 54). Where it significantly differs is that it does not acknowledge a power asymmetry or a dominative relationship between interacting parties but, like its name denotes, assumes such interactions take place between autonomous peers (Renfrew 1986, 1).
This article re-interprets the historical colonisation of the Bothnian Bay coastlands between app... more This article re-interprets the historical colonisation of the Bothnian Bay coastlands between approximately the 13th and 15th centuries AD. It is argued that this colonisation was a complex process because the archaeological evidence in the coastal area demonstrates a strong continuity of local customs far into the historical period, indicating a strong influence of local societies. With local cemeteries and other archaeological sites showing a strong local identity throughout the period while at the same time showing signs of consistent contacts and interaction with other regions, this article argues that the colonisation process was one of cooperation and negotiation and not conquest or the dislodgement of local communities by the colonists.
ABSTRACT The Late Iron Age of northern Finland is often approached through an ethnic perspective.... more ABSTRACT The Late Iron Age of northern Finland is often approached through an ethnic perspective. Archaeological sites are defined as local or foreign and, accordingly, linked to either Sámi or non-Sámi groups. In recent decades, the concept of transculturalism and mixing of cultural traits has been discussed by several researchers, and their work has shown that such categorizations can be questioned. Correspondingly, certain sites and artifacts found in the northern parts of Finland seem to relate to interactions and contacts instead of ethnic backgrounds. One such site was excavated at Viinivaara E in 2013 and 2014. Based on the fieldwork, the site can be linked to encounters and cultural exchange between local groups and visitors. The entangled nature of the site is understood by taking into consideration its location and landscape, but also by examining the archaeological and historical conception of Late Iron Age northern Finland in general. Further, transcultural dynamics present at the site are also tied to social development on a broader temporal and spatial scale.
Metal Age find locations, especially contextless stray finds, in northern Finland have long remai... more Metal Age find locations, especially contextless stray finds, in northern Finland have long remained a strange curiosity into which only few researchers have ventured. This is surprising, as starting from around AD 800 they form the largest archaeological group of an otherwise rather poorly known period. This paper approaches the subject through landscape archaeology and economic anthropology by seeking connections between find locations, other archaeological sites and topographical elements. Our study shows that Metal Age find locations are situated not only in a rich assemblage of sites stretching from the Stone Age to Historical times but also in a landscape with easily distinguishable landmarks such as islands and confluences. This suggests that artefact deposition in these areas is intentional and should thus be regarded as evidence of more specific human activity than has been previously assumed.
ABSTRACT The State of Sweden expanded its domains successfully towards the north during the medie... more ABSTRACT The State of Sweden expanded its domains successfully towards the north during the medieval period – particularly during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This expansion north from Norrland over the Bothnian coast and further into Lapland has traditionally been discussed within the classical colonial framework. In this paper, however, we argue that the Swedish northern expansion was actually more a result of successful negotiations between the State of Sweden and the northern Iron Age economic elite, leading to the peaceful integration of the northern social system(s) into the Swedish society. As a result of this process the concept of Birkarls – the traditional medieval trade elite of the north – appeared into Swedish historical documents. Recent research has brought forward evidence indicating that the Birkarl system harks back to the Iron Age northern social system, and that the medieval Birkarls were a direct continuation of the Late Iron Age trader society that was integrated and assimilated into the Swedish society during the early fourteenth century.
ABSTRACT Mortuary practices evident in the materiality of Central Fennoscandia in Northern Europe... more ABSTRACT Mortuary practices evident in the materiality of Central Fennoscandia in Northern Europe are interpreted here rather unconventionally as expressions of morality. This is defined as the culturally approved way to manage death, without scruples. The last seven millennia are set on a flat temporal scale in this paper, revealing contradictions between different ideologies and worldviews over that time. The ubiquitous themes that emerge are agency of place and the bond between fire, life, and death, along with the main criticism, which asserts that the overwhelming fear of the dead reported in the region during 2nd millennium may have been aggravated by Christian dogma. Thus, projecting similar notions of fear to local prehistoric burials is problematic and should be made with caution. The study acts as a reminder that archaeological interpretation is drawn from theory – the interpretational key – which affects both the hypotheses and the results. Changing the key may turn even an established interpretation on its head.
Vuonna 1997 julkaistussa paikallishistoriateoksessa Keminmaan historia silloinen Oulun yliopiston... more Vuonna 1997 julkaistussa paikallishistoriateoksessa Keminmaan historia silloinen Oulun yliopiston arkeologian lehtori Pentti Koivunen kuvailee Kemin Tervaharjulta löytyneen, säiläkirjoituksin koristetun myöhäisrautakautisen miekan katkelmaa. Ase on 62 cm pitkä, joskin kärjestään katkennut, ja säiläosaltaan noin 3,5 cm leveä. Lisäksi miekka on muiltakin osin hyvin huonossa kunnossa, eikä esimerkiksi väistimestä ole paljoakaan jäljellä. Koivunen esittää miekan ajoittuvan 1100-luvulle ja olevan siten yksi harvoista myöhäisrautakauden muinaislöydöistä Kemijokisuiston alueelta. Perusteita miekan ajoitukselle ei kuitenkaan tarjota. Poikkeuksellisuudestaan huolimatta esine ei kuitenkaan ole tähän päivään mennessä saanut juuri huomiota, eikä siitä esimerkiksi löydy mainintaa Museoviraston ylläpitämästä muinaisjäännösrekisteristä tai löytödiaarista (muinaiskalupäiväkirja). Näin ollen sen arkeologinen tuntemus on jäänyt hyvin vähäiseksi. Tästä syystä lieneekin aiheellista suoda tälle jo 1960-...
The State of Sweden expanded its domains successfully towards the
north during the medieval perio... more The State of Sweden expanded its domains successfully towards the north during the medieval period – particularly during the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This expansion north from Norrland over the Bothnian coast and further into Lapland has traditionally been discussed within the classical colonial framework. In this paper, however, we argue that the Swedish northern expansion was actually more a result of successful negotiations between the State of Sweden and the northern Iron Age economic elite, leading to the peaceful integration of the northern social system(s) into the Swedish society. As a result of this process the concept of Birkarls – the traditional medieval trade elite of the north – appeared into Swedish historical documents. Recent research has brought forward evidence indicating that the Birkarl system harks back to the Iron Age northern social system, and that the medieval Birkarls were a direct continuation of the Late Iron Age trader society that was integrated and assimilated into the Swedish society during the early fourteenth century.
This article studies the medieval northern Fennoscandian trade network utilizing a macro-scale pe... more This article studies the medieval northern Fennoscandian trade network utilizing a macro-scale perspective—namely, the world-systems analysis—while still maintaining a decidedly local approach to the analysis. It is argued that local factors, formed of a synergy between social and natural components, created a situation where the trade network of northern Fennoscandia remained an unhierarchical peer network despite a seeming power asymmetry between the participants. This study demonstrates how a local analysis is always important even—and especially—when utilizing a macro-scale perspective, as assumptions (for example, pertaining to power asymmetries) may lead to misconceptions of the social forces in play within a social network.
In 2011 two Late Iron Age bronze artefacts – an oval brooch and a chain support – were found by a... more In 2011 two Late Iron Age bronze artefacts – an oval brooch and a chain support – were found by a metal detectorist in Suutarinniemi, located in the Illinsaari Island in Ii, Northern Ostrobothnia . These finds together with the persistent local oral tradition placing the fi rst Christian church and cemetery on the
island prompted the archaeologists of the Oulu University to select the site as the place for their annual field school in 2013. The primary aim of this small-scale excavation was to investigate the context of these fi nds, as well as to examine the role of Illinsaari in the usage of Iijoki River valley during the Late Iron Age. The principal result of this excavation is that the site is a cemetery comprising both inhumation and cremation burials
and probably dating to the Late Iron Age and Early Medieval Period.
Digitization is an ever increasing trend in archaeology. Every new application has to seek its pl... more Digitization is an ever increasing trend in archaeology. Every new application has to seek its place in the varying scale of research, from documentation to interpretation. This paper explores the practical use of different digital applications in archaeological research and their possibilities. The applications include Real Time Kinematic GPS, aerial LIDAR, terrestrial laser scanning and selected computer software solutions used for post-processing the acquired data. These are evaluated mainly by applying them on an Iron Age cairn site, Kirnuvaara, in Finnish coastal Lapland. This case study is compared to previous studies conducted by the authors. Benefits and problems deriving from practical use and relating to digitization are discussed. The paper shows how archaeologists can benefit from the widening use of digital measurement tools and research in digital environments, presents future scenarios for archaeology and assesses the methodological costs of digitization.
Social and economic activities are often inseparable. The reason why individuals want to distingu... more Social and economic activities are often inseparable. The reason why individuals want to distinguish themselves from their groups is often the pursuit of wealth, material or immaterial, which is further used as a mean to gain prestige. The relationship between group respect and material possessions is well attested in history, ethnography and, in fact, our day-to-day lives. This suggests the mechanisms behind these processes are more or less similar. The paper presents the aspects of socio-economic mechanisms visible in the Early Metal Age. The study focuses on the Finnish side of the Bothnian Bay coast. The issue of how different mechanisms existed, or co-existed, is explored with both summarized case studies and a general outlook. The aim is to move towards a framework on how societies chose to engage in certain socio-economic activities and how these choices affected the inner workings of the societies themselves.
Pohjois-Suomen myöhäisrautakautinen arkeologinen aineisto rajoittuu tällä hetkellä joitain
poikk... more Pohjois-Suomen myöhäisrautakautinen arkeologinen aineisto rajoittuu tällä hetkellä joitain
poikkeuksia lukuun ottamatta kontekstittomiin irtolöytöihin. Kenttätutkimusten avulla irtolöytöjä
on pystytty toteamaan kiinteiksi muinaisjäännöksiksi niin sisämaassa kuin rannikollakin,
mutta koska valtaosa aineistosta on yhä tutkimatta, on pohjoisen Suomen myöhäisrautakautta
tarkasteltava olemassa olevan aineiston asettamissa rajoissa. Esitelmässä aihetta
lähestytään näkökulmasta, jonka mukaan arkeologinen aineisto voidaan hahmottaa tyylillisen
kommunikaation välineenä.
Tyylilliseksi kommunikaatioksi nimitetään materiaalisen kulttuurin avulla siirrettävää
informaatiota ja sen on havaittu nousevan erityisen merkitykselliseksi sosiaalisesti haasteellisissa
tilanteissa. Esimerkkejä tämänkaltaisista tilanteista ovat kohtaamiset, joissa osallistujat
ovat sosiaalisesti etäällä toisistaan tai kun vallalla oleva yhteiskunnallinen järjestelmä on
epästabiili. Näin ollen sosiaalinen murros on erotettavissa muutoksena arkeologisen aineiston
luonteessa ja määrässä. Teoriaa soveltamalla pyritään havainnoimaan ja tulkitsemaan sosiaalisessa
murroksessa olleita ihmisyhteisöjä ja niiden välisiä kohtaamisia myöhäisrautakauden
Pohjois-Suomessa.
Sisä- ja Pohjois-Suomesta tunnetaan joukko myöhäiselle rautakaudelle ajoittuvia ja arkeologisesti... more Sisä- ja Pohjois-Suomesta tunnetaan joukko myöhäiselle rautakaudelle ajoittuvia ja arkeologisesti varsin vaikeasti havainnoitavia hautalöytöjä. Nämä pääosin vierasta alkuperää olevilla esineillä varustetut ja eteläisille alueille ominaisia hautauskäytäntöjä näennäisesti noudattelevat kohteet on useimmiten tulkittu merkeiksi alueen ulkopuolisesta hyödyntämisestä, mikä puolestaan on jättänyt aineistosta varsin yksipuolisen kuvan. Viime vuosina suosiotaan nostanut metallinilmaisinharrastus sekä hautoihin kohdistunut arkeologinen mielenkiinto ovat kuitenkin lisänneet kohteiden määrää ja mahdollistaneet aineiston tarkastelun myös muista näkökulmista. Nykytiedon valossa esimerkiksi hautojen liittäminen sisämaassa ja Pohjois-Suomessa rautakauden lopulla eläneeseen paikallisväestöön vaikuttaa entistä varteenotettavammalta tulkintalinjalta, sillä aineiston määrän voidaan arvioida olevan selvästi aikaisemmin oletettua suurempi. Lisäksi valtaosa kohteista sijoittuu vedenjakaja-alueille, jotka maantieteellisten yhteyksiensä puolesta ovat mahdollistaneet kulttuurivaikutteiden ja materiaalin siirtymisen sisämaan metsästäjäkeräilijöiden pariin. Toisaalta aineistoa voidaan heijastella myös Ruotsin ja Norjan sisämaa-alueilta tunnettuihin erämaahautoihin sekä Suomessa varhaismetallikaudelta myöhäiselle rautakaudelle jatkuneeseen sisämaan röykkiöhautausperinteeseen.
Oulun yliopiston arkeologian oppiaine suoritti viikon mittaisen kaivaustutkimuksen Suomussalmen H... more Oulun yliopiston arkeologian oppiaine suoritti viikon mittaisen kaivaustutkimuksen Suomussalmen Heinisaaressa elokuussa 2015. Kohde on löytynyt paikallisen metallinilmaisinharrastajan toimesta joulukuussa 2014 ja tutkimuksen tavoitteena oli selvittää metallinilmaisimella löydetyn esineistön löytöyhteyttä sekä täsmentää kohteen ajoitusta ja laajuutta. Kaivauksen kuluessa Heinisaaren lounaisrannalle avattiin neljä erikokoista kaivausaluetta ja koeruutua, joista löydetyn materiaalin perusteella alueelta voitiin todeta viikinki- ja ristiretkiajan taitteeseen sijoittuva ja varsin ehjänä säilynyt polttohauta johon on palaneen luun lisäksi kuulunut myös koruja, kolikoita sekä aseita ja työvälineitä. Suomussalmelta tunnetaan entuudestaan runsaasti erilaisia rautakautisia kohteita ja löytöpaikkoja ja Heinisaaresta paikannettu hauta näyttää edelleen vahvistavan alueen merkitystä rautakauden lopun osalta.
Oulun yliopisto suoritti kolmen viikon mittaisen kaivaustutkimuksen Iin Pirttitörmän
kohteella k... more Oulun yliopisto suoritti kolmen viikon mittaisen kaivaustutkimuksen Iin Pirttitörmän
kohteella kesällä 2014. Tutkimus toteutettiin arkeologian oppiaineen opetuskaivauksena ja
sen tavoitteena oli selvittää edellisenä kesänä metallinilmaisinharrastajan paikantamien
esineiden ja esineen kappaleiden löytöyhteyttä sekä täsmentää kohteen ajoitusta.
Tutkimuksen kuluessa alueelle avattiin kaksi kaivausaluetta, joista löytöinä talletettiin
palanutta sekä palamatonta luuta, kupariseosastioiden kappaleita sekä yksi 1300-luvulle
ajoittuva hopearaha. Rakenteina tutkimuksen yhteydessä dokumentoitiin muun muassa
tulisijailmiö sekä siihen liittyvä ympärysrakenne. Löytöjen sekä havaittujen rakenteiden
perusteella Pirttitörmän aiemmin epämääräisenä irtolöytönä hahmottunut kohde on
tulkittavissa mahdollisesti pitkäänkin käytössä olleeksi varhaiseksi asuinpaikaksi, joka
ajoituksensa sekä sijaintinsa puolesta niveltyy Iijoen suualueen rautakauden ja keskiajan
alun asutusvaiheeseen.
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Books by Ville Hakamäki
archaeological sites and finds documented in the regions of
Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. The point of departure for the study is to understand the data from a local point of view as in the previous evaluations the hunter-gatherer population inhabiting the area has been overlooked with most of the discussions revolving around the peasant influence arriving from southwestern Finland and Karelia. Partially for this reason, the period in question has appeared problematic and many questions regarding the settlement remain unadressed.
The reason for the poor research situation articulates with the problems related to the archaeologica remains. Most of the material must be classified as so-called stray finds or archaeological objects to which no context can be determined without excavations taking place. These stray finds comprise the most significant portion of the available data, as besides them only a few burials, dwelling sites or other feasible remains are documented in Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. In spite of this, the research interest towards these finds has been relatively minor
until recent years.
The research questions are approached via three case studies, which represent stray finds that were excavated during the research process of the dissertation. These sites are addressed by taking into consideration their form, function and dating as well as examining their archaeological
context on a borader geographical scale. In addition to the case studies, the dissertation considers previously known sites and finds in the research area and elsewhere in the interior and northern Fennoscandia. Based on the study, it is argued that several stray finds are associated with burial sites, dwellings and other indicators of settlement whose formation process has likely been affected by local traditions and subsistence as well as contacts and interactions with other Iron Age
communities.
Papers by Ville Hakamäki
north during the medieval period – particularly during the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This expansion north from
Norrland over the Bothnian coast and further into Lapland has
traditionally been discussed within the classical colonial
framework. In this paper, however, we argue that the Swedish
northern expansion was actually more a result of successful
negotiations between the State of Sweden and the northern Iron
Age economic elite, leading to the peaceful integration of the
northern social system(s) into the Swedish society. As a result of
this process the concept of Birkarls – the traditional medieval
trade elite of the north – appeared into Swedish historical
documents. Recent research has brought forward evidence
indicating that the Birkarl system harks back to the Iron Age
northern social system, and that the medieval Birkarls were a
direct continuation of the Late Iron Age trader society that was
integrated and assimilated into the Swedish society during the
early fourteenth century.
archaeological sites and finds documented in the regions of
Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. The point of departure for the study is to understand the data from a local point of view as in the previous evaluations the hunter-gatherer population inhabiting the area has been overlooked with most of the discussions revolving around the peasant influence arriving from southwestern Finland and Karelia. Partially for this reason, the period in question has appeared problematic and many questions regarding the settlement remain unadressed.
The reason for the poor research situation articulates with the problems related to the archaeologica remains. Most of the material must be classified as so-called stray finds or archaeological objects to which no context can be determined without excavations taking place. These stray finds comprise the most significant portion of the available data, as besides them only a few burials, dwelling sites or other feasible remains are documented in Northern Ostrobothnia and Kainuu. In spite of this, the research interest towards these finds has been relatively minor
until recent years.
The research questions are approached via three case studies, which represent stray finds that were excavated during the research process of the dissertation. These sites are addressed by taking into consideration their form, function and dating as well as examining their archaeological
context on a borader geographical scale. In addition to the case studies, the dissertation considers previously known sites and finds in the research area and elsewhere in the interior and northern Fennoscandia. Based on the study, it is argued that several stray finds are associated with burial sites, dwellings and other indicators of settlement whose formation process has likely been affected by local traditions and subsistence as well as contacts and interactions with other Iron Age
communities.
north during the medieval period – particularly during the
thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. This expansion north from
Norrland over the Bothnian coast and further into Lapland has
traditionally been discussed within the classical colonial
framework. In this paper, however, we argue that the Swedish
northern expansion was actually more a result of successful
negotiations between the State of Sweden and the northern Iron
Age economic elite, leading to the peaceful integration of the
northern social system(s) into the Swedish society. As a result of
this process the concept of Birkarls – the traditional medieval
trade elite of the north – appeared into Swedish historical
documents. Recent research has brought forward evidence
indicating that the Birkarl system harks back to the Iron Age
northern social system, and that the medieval Birkarls were a
direct continuation of the Late Iron Age trader society that was
integrated and assimilated into the Swedish society during the
early fourteenth century.
island prompted the archaeologists of the Oulu University to select the site as the place for their annual field school in 2013. The primary aim of this small-scale excavation was to investigate the context of these fi nds, as well as to examine the role of Illinsaari in the usage of Iijoki River valley during the Late Iron Age. The principal result of this excavation is that the site is a cemetery comprising both inhumation and cremation burials
and probably dating to the Late Iron Age and Early Medieval Period.
poikkeuksia lukuun ottamatta kontekstittomiin irtolöytöihin. Kenttätutkimusten avulla irtolöytöjä
on pystytty toteamaan kiinteiksi muinaisjäännöksiksi niin sisämaassa kuin rannikollakin,
mutta koska valtaosa aineistosta on yhä tutkimatta, on pohjoisen Suomen myöhäisrautakautta
tarkasteltava olemassa olevan aineiston asettamissa rajoissa. Esitelmässä aihetta
lähestytään näkökulmasta, jonka mukaan arkeologinen aineisto voidaan hahmottaa tyylillisen
kommunikaation välineenä.
Tyylilliseksi kommunikaatioksi nimitetään materiaalisen kulttuurin avulla siirrettävää
informaatiota ja sen on havaittu nousevan erityisen merkitykselliseksi sosiaalisesti haasteellisissa
tilanteissa. Esimerkkejä tämänkaltaisista tilanteista ovat kohtaamiset, joissa osallistujat
ovat sosiaalisesti etäällä toisistaan tai kun vallalla oleva yhteiskunnallinen järjestelmä on
epästabiili. Näin ollen sosiaalinen murros on erotettavissa muutoksena arkeologisen aineiston
luonteessa ja määrässä. Teoriaa soveltamalla pyritään havainnoimaan ja tulkitsemaan sosiaalisessa
murroksessa olleita ihmisyhteisöjä ja niiden välisiä kohtaamisia myöhäisrautakauden
Pohjois-Suomessa.
kohteella kesällä 2014. Tutkimus toteutettiin arkeologian oppiaineen opetuskaivauksena ja
sen tavoitteena oli selvittää edellisenä kesänä metallinilmaisinharrastajan paikantamien
esineiden ja esineen kappaleiden löytöyhteyttä sekä täsmentää kohteen ajoitusta.
Tutkimuksen kuluessa alueelle avattiin kaksi kaivausaluetta, joista löytöinä talletettiin
palanutta sekä palamatonta luuta, kupariseosastioiden kappaleita sekä yksi 1300-luvulle
ajoittuva hopearaha. Rakenteina tutkimuksen yhteydessä dokumentoitiin muun muassa
tulisijailmiö sekä siihen liittyvä ympärysrakenne. Löytöjen sekä havaittujen rakenteiden
perusteella Pirttitörmän aiemmin epämääräisenä irtolöytönä hahmottunut kohde on
tulkittavissa mahdollisesti pitkäänkin käytössä olleeksi varhaiseksi asuinpaikaksi, joka
ajoituksensa sekä sijaintinsa puolesta niveltyy Iijoen suualueen rautakauden ja keskiajan
alun asutusvaiheeseen.