Similiar or different? : A material study of forest-Finnish settlements in Sweden

Abstract

The main purpose of this essay is to examine if it is possible to identify farms of “forest Finnish” people in Sweden, by means of an archaeological analysis, comparing the forest Finnish settlement with known none-forest Finnish settlements. This study is based on material excavated from the farms of Grannäs, and Råsjö, in the Swedish provinces of Jämtland and Medelpad. Both farms are dated to the 17th and 18th century. The study itself is divided into three parts, firstly a general study to get an overview of the material, secondly a study of ceramics as an attempt to discern social status and lastly a study of the animal bone material for analyzing the forest Finns’ livestock and possible hunting habits. The aim of the essay is also to provide a brief discussion regarding forest Finns and ethnicity. The results are ambiguous, but it seems possible to argue that there is a correlation between the ceramic and the amount of livestock. The forest Finns’ hunting habits could furthermore be considered in some ways a cultural act