The identification and use of fur and feathers excavated from the late iron age and early medieval (12th-13th) centuries) Ravattula Ristimaki Cemetery in Kaarina, Southwest Finland

dc.contributor.authorKirkinen, Tuija
dc.contributor.authorRiikonen, Jaana
dc.contributor.authorDove, Carla J.
dc.contributor.authorRuohonen, Juha
dc.date.accessioned2020-12-16T03:02:53Z
dc.date.available2020-12-16T03:02:53Z
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractThe Ristimäki ('Cross Hill') inhumation cemetery in Ravattula village in Kaarina municipality, Southwest Finland, dates to the Late Iron Age and Early Medieval times (12th–13th centuries). In addition to a large cemetery, this site is documented as having remains of the earliest known church in the country. This study presents the descriptions of fur garments, fur-lined artefacts and grave furnishings that were excavated in Ravattula Ristimäki in 2010–16. Animal hairs and feathers were preserved in eight out of the 61 burials excavated in the research project. We identified eight species of mammals and one family of birds (Anatidae) from the burials that contained organic material. Human scalp hair was found in several female burials, adding information on the hairstyles of the period. Together with blankets filled with feathers, these items indicate highly versatile and varied burial customs within the cemetery. This study provides new evidence of the use of fur garments and accessories, as well as grave furnishings, at the dawn of Christianity in Northern Europe.
dc.format.extent45–59
dc.identifier0781-7126
dc.identifier.citationKirkinen, Tuija, Riikonen, Jaana, Dove, Carla J., and Ruohonen, Juha. 2020. "<a href="https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/108551">The identification and use of fur and feathers excavated from the late iron age and early medieval (12th-13th) centuries) Ravattula Ristimaki Cemetery in Kaarina, Southwest Finland</a>." <em>Fennoscandia archaeologica</em>, XXXVII 45–59.
dc.identifier.issn0781-7126
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10088/108551
dc.publisherSuomen Arkeologinen Seura
dc.relation.ispartofFennoscandia archaeologica XXXVII
dc.titleThe identification and use of fur and feathers excavated from the late iron age and early medieval (12th-13th) centuries) Ravattula Ristimaki Cemetery in Kaarina, Southwest Finland
dc.typearticle
sro.description.unitNH-Vertebrate Zoology
sro.description.unitNMNH
sro.identifier.itemID157629
sro.identifier.refworksID48792
sro.identifier.urlhttps://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/108551
sro.publicationPlaceHelsinki, Finland

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