Fennoscandia archaeologica XVII (2000)
Articles:
- Markku Torvinen, Säräisniemi 1 Ware
- Timo Kuokkanen, Stone Age sledges of central-grooved type: Finnish
reconstructions
- Jan Storå, Sealing and animal husbandry in the Ålandic Middle and
Late Neolithic
- Janne Harjula, Burial cairns in the region of the ancient bay of
Panelia. A study of cultural formation processes
Discussion:
- Valter Lang, Archaeology and language
- Bernhard Hänsel, Archäologie und Sprache —
ein Plaidoyer für die Vielsprachigkeit
- Brian Boyd, Some comments inspired by Valter Lang's
"Archaeology and language"
- Mervi Suhonen, Comment on Valter Lang's article Archaeology and
language
- Tom Reuter, The language of scientific teaching and writing in
small European countries
- Valter Lang, Politics, science or money? A reply
Notes and news:
- Esa Mikkola & Tuukka Talvio, A silver coin hoard from
Orijärvi, Kihlinpelto in Mikkeli Rural Commune, province of Savo, Eastern
Finland
Book reviews:
- Michael Brian Schiffer with Andrea R. Miller, The Material Life of
Human Beings: Artifacts, behaviour, and communication. Routledge. London —
New York 1999, 158 p. Reviewed by Visa Immonen and Lily Diaz
Abstracts:
Markku Torvinen
SÄRÄISNIEMI 1 WARE
Abstract
This article discusses Early Neolithic Säräisniemi 1 ceramics (Sär
1) found in Northern and Northeastern Fennoscandia and regarded as a northern
variant of the Early Comb Ware (Sperrings 1) occurring in the south. Until
recently, the precise chronological status of Sär 1 has remained obscure.
Recent studies show that the Sär 1 and Sperrings 1 ceramic groups had
common roots, deriving from a ceramic tradition of the Upper Volga region.
The differentiation of the groups in terms of style was a chronologically
and geographically parallel process fuelled by ethnic factors. Although the
people who developed and bore the traditions of these groups were close,
they descended from distinct Late Mesolithic populations. The process whereby
Sär 1 Ware formed has been described as the kernel of a series of developments
that resulted in the emergence of the Sámi. Shoreline displacement
and radiocarbon dates date the Sär 1 Ware of Finland to ca. 6100-5500
BP.
The present article is based on the author’s unpublished licentiate thesis
in archaeology on the Sär 1 tradition (Torvinen 1999a) at the Department
of Archaeology of the Institute for Cultural Research of the University of
Helsinki.
Keywords: Stone Age, early ceramics, Säräisniemi 1 Ware, Jokkavaara, Latokangas.
Timo Kuokkanen
STONE AGE SLEDGES OF CENTRAL-GROOVED TYPE: FINNISH RECONSTRUCTIONS
Abstract
Among Finnish Stone Age finds there is a group of Neolithic sledge runners
known as the central-grooved type. The name is derived from the long narrow
groove upon the runner. The runners have been preserved in bogs and lakes.
The central-grooved runner type has no clear ethnological counterparts. The
existence of very few remains of other parts of the sledge make the reconstruction
of the sledge problematic. However, the central-grooved runners are especially
interesting because they have features which might indicate the existence
of both one- and two-legged sledges. The first to suggest the existence of
a one-legged central-grooved sledge was Aarne Kopisto who compared its structure
to North-American toboggans. To test Kopisto=s proposal, a test sledge was
made and tested. It was found that a one-legged central-grooved sledge is
practical if the runner is long enough.
This is purely a technical study of one type of prehistoric sledge and, at
the same time, part of a more extensive sledge study. The social functions
and meanings of the sledges and other means of winter transportation will
be discussed in a later paper.
Keywords: experimental archaeology, means of transportation, sledges, bog finds.
Jan Storå
SEALING AND ANIMAL HUSBANDRY IN THE ÅLANDIC MIDDLE AND LATE NEOLITHIC
Abstract
Osteological analyses of faunal assemblages from Pitted Ware sites on the
Åland Islands are presented. All assemblages are dominated by seals.
Especially the utilization of the harp seal formed an important part of the
subsistence economy in the archipelago. The exploitation of the harp seal
was extensive on the older Pitted Ware sites (Jettböle 1) and probably
of great importance also on the younger sites. There are, however, some differences
in the exploitation patterns of the harp seal and possibly also of the ringed
seal between Jettböle I and the younger Pitted Ware sites.
On some of the sites a small number of bones of elk, red deer, cattle, sheep,
pig and beaver was also identified. The dietary importance of elk and red
deer has probably been very limited. Instead the bones and antler of these
animals were utilized as raw material for bone tool manufacture. Radiocarbon
dates indicate that cattle, sheep and possibly pig were introduced in the
islands in the early Late Neolithic period. The introduction seems contextually
to take place on the younger Pitted Ware sites but the chronological resolution
is coarse. The pottery of these sites shows influences mainly from Corded
Ware but Late Neolithic Kiukais pottery has also been discovered on some
of the sites. Although the exploitation of seals apparently is less extensive
on the younger Pitted Ware sites it is improbable that the appearance of
the domesticated animals is only related to an economic sphere. The archaeological
find material indicates that a larger set of new elements is introduced at
the same time and the domesticated animals are probably only one part of
this complex.
Keywords: Åland Islands, Middle Neolithic, Neolithisation, Late Neolithic, Pitted Ware Culture.
Janne Harjula
BURIAL CAIRNS IN THE REGION OF THE ANCIENT BAY OF PANELIA:
A study of cultural formation processes
Abstract
Studying the local history and the archaeological surveys, it can be found
that only about half of the burial cairns in the region of the Ancient Bay
of Panelia have survived from the beginning of the 19th century to this day.
The condition of the remaining cairns has also deteriorated. The reason leading
to the current situation has been the expansion of settlement after the general
parcelling out of land in the late 18th century. This has been fatal for
the burial cairns situated on the same slopes as spreading settlement. Drawing
archaeological conclusions becomes difficult because of the diminishing representativity
and source value of the archaeological material. The destruction of the remains
of the past is also an antiquarian concern. How can the remains be preserved
for the generations to come? The decentralisation of antiquities administration
and the emerging appreciation of the cultural heritage give hope for the
future.The registration of the new archaeological remains has also changed
the picture of the archaeological coverage in the area. The surveyors’ subjective
choices and the tradition of intuitive survey, developed for the protection
of the remains and for antiquities administration, have affected the results
of the surveys. The listed burial cairns are concentrated in the vicinity
of a modern cultural landscape. The low and small sized cairns are underrepresented.
This is probably caused by the unsystematic surveys of low intensity.
Keywords: burial cairns, archaeological formation processes, archaeological surveys, preservation of antiquities.