Pottery, language and iron: Reassessing Luukonsaari and Sirnihta Wares and their cultural context in Early Iron Age Finland

Petro Pesonen; Minerva Piha; Marja Ahola; Elisabeth Holmqvist; Terhi Honkola

doi:10.4312/dp.52.4

Authors

Petro Pesonen Finnish Heritage Agency, Archaeological Field Services, Helsinki, Finland; University of Helsinki, Finnish Museum of Natural History, Laboratory of Chronology, Finland
Minerva Piha Nord University, Faculty of Education and Arts, South Saami Section, Norway
Marja Ahola University of Oulu, Department of History, Culture, and Communication, Finland; University of Helsinki, Department of Cultures, Finland
Elisabeth Holmqvist University of Helsinki, Department of Cultures, Finland
Terhi Honkola University of Helsinki, Department of Finnish, Finno-Ugrian and Scandinavian Studies, Finland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4312/dp.52.4

Keywords:

Finland, Late Bronze Age, Early Iron Age, pottery, Luukonsaari Ware, Sirnihta Ware, iron production, Proto-Saami, Proto-Finnic

Abstract

This paper examines two Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age pottery types in Finland, Luukonsaari and Sirnihta Wares, which were previously poorly defined and dated. New radiocarbon dates and Bayesian modelling place Luukonsaari Ware in c. 2800–2100 cal BP and Sirnihta Ware in c. 2000–1450 cal BP. These periods were crucial for the emergence of coastal farming and inland hunter-gatherer societies. The study explores typological and chronological variations, connections with other pottery types, influences from Textile Ware, and links to proto-languages. It also discusses the arrival of Saami languages, early iron production, and the cultural context of these pottery groups.

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