Life and Death from the Late Iron Age to the Middle Ages

Was Lapland as distant and unexplored as it is often believed? Were the inhabitants of the region powerless taxpayers to the Swedish crown at times, to the agents of Novgorod at other times, or to anyone else? Did Catholic bishops arrange Northern religious matters according to their own preferences? Research has advanced significantly in the 21st century, and although there is still much we do not know, we can now critically examine old beliefs.

"Life and Death from the Late Iron Age to the Middle Ages" -exhibition is based on the latest archaeological research in Northern Finland and primarily examines the period from the 9th to the 16th century. The exhibition explores, among other things, the changes in Northern communities brought about by trade and the resulting prosperity. It also provides an overview of burial customs and their development, shedding light on what they reveal about communities, their beliefs, and livelihoods. The North could be a dangerous place, and locals carried weapons for a reason. What do these weapon finds tell us about ancient Lapland and its inhabitants?

The exhibition opens on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, and will be accompanied by a publication complementing the exhibition. The exhibition script was written by Jari-Matti Kuusela, an archaeologist at the Regional Museum of Lapland.