Late Iron Age transculturalism in the northern “periphery”: understanding the long-term prehistoric occupational area of Viinivaara E, Finland

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Transculturalism
• third spaces
• borderlands
• Late Iron Age archaeology
• burial practices
• settlement patterns

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the following individuals for their comments on the manuscript: professors Vesa-Pekka Herva and Bryan Hood, university lecturer Jari Okkonen, Ph.D., Jari-Matti Kuusela and doctoral students Aki Hakonen and Karen Niskanen. I would also like to thank the two anonymous reviewers for the useful comments and ideas they gave me on the draft version of the paper. Excavations in Viinivaara E were conducted in co-operation with the Administration of Forests and the Northern Ostrobothnia Museum, to which I would like to express my gratitude.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

1. Traditional Finnish practice of acquiring natural resources such as furs, fish, lumber and tar from distant wilderness areas through organized expeditions. Although eränkäynti is usually associated with Iron Age and Medieval period peasants, its origins are likely much older than that.

Additional information

Funding

The fieldwork, as well as the writing of this paper, was undertaken as part of the research project “Yhteisöjen keskinäinen yhteistyö- ja riippuvuussuhde sosiaalisena ilmiönä. Sisämaa ja rannikko Pohjois-Suomen rautakauden löytöjen ja kohteiden valossa” funded by the Kone Foundation under grant number 243016581.