Stable isotope analysis and ethical issues surorunding a human skeleton material from Rounala in Karesuando parish

• Main Author: Fjellström, Markus
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Stockholms universitet, Arkeologiska forskningslaboratoriet 2011
• Subjects: Rounala; Lapland; Radiocarbon; Diet; Mobility patterns; δ13C; δ15N; δ34S; Stable isotope analysis; Repatriation; Reindeer pastoralism; Christianity; Saami; Kvaeni; Karesuando; saami; Norrbotten
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:su:diva-68221

This thesis deals with a medieval material from Rounala in Karesuando parish, Norrbotten county, Lapland. The aim is to reconstruct the diet and mobility patterns. It is through carbon, nitrogen and sulphur stable isotopes and radiocarbon that both pastoralist traits and whether which part Christianity played in the burial traditions of these human remains is being studied. Another aim is to discuss the repatriation issue as these remains are subjected to. The results mainly show that all individuals had a mixed diet and no pastoral way of living has been established. Furthermore, individual 3 is suffering from pathological changes. With radiocarbon dates ranging from 1300 to 1720 AD, two groups can be distinguished as to whom had been buried before and after the construction of the church. And repatriation is being discussed as an issue to who have ownership over ancient remains.