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.
Author(s): Ville Hakamäki
Series: Acta Universitatis Ouluensis, B Humaniora, 168
Publisher: University of Oulu
Year: 2018
Language: English
Pages: 210
Abstract
Tiivistelmä
Acknowledgements 9
Abbreviations 11
Original papers 13
Table of contents 15
1 Introduction 17
1.1 The principal research questions 18
1.2 Key concepts of the study 20
1.2.1 Stray find 20
1.2.2 Settlement 22
1.2.3 Social hubs, landscape and contacts 24
1.3 Methodology 27
1.4 Structure of the dissertation 31
2 The major findings 35
2.1 The distribution, location and provenience of stray finds 36
2.2 Heinisaari and the Late Iron Age burial sites of the research area interior 42
2.2.1 The burial structure and additional finds 43
2.2.2 Landscape and the archaeological context 46
2.3 Viinivaara E and the inland dwelling sites 50
2.3.1 An outline of the site's past usage 51
2.3.2 Excavated features 54
2.3.3 Dwelling site indicators and sites in the research area interior 58
2.4 Pirttitörmä and the Late Iron Age settlement in the coast 60
2.4.1 Landscape and the Late Iron Age usage of Illinsaari 62
2.4.2 Heating stoves, cellar pits and other structures 65
2.4.3 Dating 72
2.4.4 Connection to other coastal sites of northern Finland 75
3 Outlining the Late Iron Age settlement of the research area 79
3.1 Previous interpretations 79
3.2 Coastal river estuaries as social hubs 82
3.3 Contextualising the inland dwelling sites 87
3.4 Cultural contacts and continuation in the inland burial sites 89
