Scandinavian Colonialism in Sápmi and Sámi Archaeology in Scandinavia - Archaeological Perspectives on Northern Colonial Landscapes and Sámi Religion in the 17th and 18th Centuries

Summary

Throughout the history of archaeology, the Sámi - the indigenous people in northernmost Norway, Sweden, Finland and the Kola Peninsula in Russia - have been treated as the "Others", in relation to the national identities and histories. In recent decades, however, a field of Sámi archaeology has emerged, parallel with Sámi ethnic and cultural revitalization movements. Today, archaeologists in Sápmi face many ethical and political challenges, including conflicts over land and cultural rights.

This paper aims to explore some aspects of the colonial and Christianization processes in Sápmi, and the transformations of Sámi religion and cultural landscapes in the 17th and 18th centuries. It is important to critically examine the history of Scandinavian colonialism in Sápmi, the larger historical contexts and the consequences for the understanding of Sámi history, culture and religion. How has this history been told by different actors, and how can archaeology contribute with new perspectives?

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2013   •
• Colonial Scandinavia and Scandinavian Colonialism: Archaeological aspects of a forgotten past

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Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 573