The area around the grave markers: contextualizing a neglected pet cemetery in northern Finland

ABSTRACT

The study of pet cemeteries has recently intensified in multiple disciplines. However, the focus of this research has been more on the interpretation of information available on grave markers, while only touching on the geographical context, the land use zone of these sites. The advantages of focusing on the broader context are shown here through a case study focusing on the Hiironen pet cemetery in the city of Oulu in northern Finland. First, by combining a variety of sources – archival documents, photographs, maps, and news reports – with field documentation, a contextual site history extending both before and after the official period of use of the pet cemetery (1971–1993) is established. This history mirrors temporal changes in societal values regarding human-companion animal relations. By defining and examining these changes, the current notion of the increasing status of present-day companion animals as dear family members is confirmed.

KEYWORDS:

• Pet cemetery
• necrogeography
• human-animal relations
• temporal change

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janne Ikäheimo

Janne Ikäheimo works as a lecturer in archaeology at the University of Oulu. While his dissertation focused on ceramic cooking pots produced in Roman Africa, his current research interests include pet burial customs in contemporary society, the Bronze Age in Northern Finland, and the introduction of metallurgy to eastern Fennoscandia and Northwest Russia. As a self-taught beer aficionado, he is also interested in the material culture, marketing, and sociology of craft beer.

Sara Jasmin Puska

Sara Jasmin Puska is studying archaeology at the University of Oulu and is currently preparing her MA thesis on the Hiironen pet cemetery.

Tiina Äikäs

Tiina Äikäs is a senior researcher in archaeology at the University of Oulu, Finland and holds a title of Docent in Archaeology at the University of Helsinki. She has also graduated on master’s level in Geography. Her doctoral thesis (2011) dealt with the ritual landscapes of Saami sacred places but in addition to the archaeology of religion, her research interests include place-bound memories, heritage studies, and industrial heritage.