In Finland, scientists have studied the grave of a man who died 400 years ago
Researchers from Finland have published the results of a study of a burial site dating back approximately 400 years, discovered near Lake Kitka in the Kuusamo region. DNA and isotope analysis established genetic links between the man and modern Sámi peoples, and also indicated his mobile lifestyle and possible presence in the North Atlantic regions.
The study was conducted by specialists from the University of Turku and their partners.
Scientists studied the remains of a man aged about 40, whose grave was discovered back in the 1970s near Lake Kitka.
DNA samples obtained from the buried man’s teeth were compared with ancient and modern genomes. The results showed that his genetic profile most closely resembles that of residents of northern and northeastern Lapland and is also closely linked to modern Sámi populations.
Researcher Sanni Peltola noted:
“A similar pattern emerges when modern Sámi people are used for comparison instead of the individual from Kitka. This suggests that the results reflect broader historical interaction and admixture between Sámi and Finnish populations.”
At the same time, the researchers emphasize that genetic data cannot be used to determine a person’s ethnicity.
“Sámi identity is not a biological trait, but a historical, cultural, and social phenomenon,” Peltola emphasized.
Isotope analysis of the man’s teeth yielded equally important results. It showed that the man had arrived in the Kuusamo region only shortly before his death.
During his childhood, his diet consisted mainly of land animal meat, freshwater fish, and seafood. Later, the proportion of marine resources in his diet increased significantly, while freshwater fish virtually disappeared.
In addition, analysis of traces related to drinking water indicates that he spent his teenage years in an area with geological conditions that differ significantly from those in Finland.
Senior Researcher Ulla Nordfors suggests that the man may have lived in the North Atlantic region for a time.
“The most likely location is a region with volcanic bedrock in the North Atlantic, probably Iceland. This interpretation is supported by historical evidence of contacts between Northern Fennoscandia and the North Atlantic in the 16th century,” she explained.
Previously, some researchers had suggested that the man from Kitka might have been a noaidi—a Sámi ritual specialist or shaman. The new study does not rule out this possibility, but it reveals a much more complex life story for this individual.
According to Nordfors, the findings indicate that historical Sámi communities were far more diverse than described in earlier scholarly works.
“The results show that historical Sámi communities and their social roles do not correspond to the ideas presented in older scientific literature,” the researcher emphasized.
SciTechDaily reports on this.
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