Missing Interpretations: Natural and Residual Finds in Estonian Archaeological Collections

432 Pages·2018·19.104 MB·English

by  Kristiina Johanson

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Tartu 2018
1
ISSN 1736-2733
ISBN 978-9949-77-923-9

DISSERTATIONES ARCHAEOLOGIAE UNIVERSITATIS TARTUENSIS
8

DISSERTATIONES ARCHAEOLOGIAE UNIVERSITATIS TARTUENSIS
8

KRISTIINA JOHANSON

Missing interpretations
Natural and residual finds in Estonian
archaeological collections
Institute of History and Archaeology, Faculty of Arts and Humanities,
University of Tartu, Estonia

The dissertation is accepted for the commencement of the degree of Doctor of
Philosophy (in Archaeology) on October 16th 2018 by the Council of the
Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu.

Supervisors: Prof. Aivar Kriiska, Department of Archaeology,
Institute of History and Archaeology, University of
Tartu
Dr. Tõnno Jonuks, Estonian Literary Museum

Opponent: Dr. Sonja Hukantaival, School of History, Culture and
Art Studies, University of Turku

Commencement: December 11th 2018 at 16.15, Institute of History and
Archaeology, UT Senate Hall, Ülikooli St. 18–204,
Tartu, Estonia

This research was funded by the Estonian Science Foundation (ETF grants
7375, 8956 and 9306), institutional research funding (IUT20-7) and targeted
funding (SF0180150s08) of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research,
the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (the
Centre of Excellence in Cultural Theory) and the European Social Fund
(Graduate School of Culture Studies and Arts), Internationalisation Programme
DoRa and the Kristjan Jaak scholarships that are carried out by Foundation
Archimedes. The research was based on finds stored in the archaeological
research collections of the universities of Tallinn and Tartu, supported by the
Estonian Ministry of Education and Research.

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ISSN 1736-2733
ISBN 978-9949-77-923-9 (print)
ISBN 978-9949-77-924-6 (pdf)

Copyright: Kristiina Johanson, 2018

University of Tartu Press
www.tyk.ee
The Great Stonytotem was a very grand name for a rather insig-
nificant object. The Great Stonytotem was, in fact, a stone, an odd-
shaped stone that Benka had found. If you were feeling generous
you could say it was shaped like a little old man sitting down and
staring at his navel, like a Buddha. The Reds immediately made it
their special trophy, and gave it mighty power. That was enough
for the Whites to feel it was their sacred duty to get hold of it at all
costs. The fiercest battles of all had raged over the Great Stony-
totem. It might seem odd that so much importance was attached to
a small stone…

(Astrid Lindgren. Kalle Blomkvist mystery: Living dangerously)

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Writing of this thesis has been a long journey with successes and drawbacks,
with tiresome strolls and energetic dashes and I am extremely grateful to my
supervisors Aivar Kriiska, and Tõnno Jonuks for guiding me through this process.
Aivar has been my supervisor since the BA-studies introducing me to the won-
derful world of the Stone Age; I appreciate his support and acceptance when I
decided to dedicate my PhD studies on this rather unconventional source material.
Tõnno has been there every step of the way, encouraging me to proceed with
my ideas and not letting me give up. I am ever so grateful to him for the long
supportive discussions.
I would like to credit the people who have helped me with the several ques-
tions concerning the source material. I am especially grateful to Tõnu Meidla
and Oive Tinn (Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu) for
assisting me with the identification of fossils, Juho Kirs (Institute of Ecology
and Earth Sciences, University of Tartu) for helping me to identify the rocks
and Signe Vahur (Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu) for helping me
with chemical analyses. I am thankful to Jaana Ratas for sharing her knowledge
about pottery polishing pebbles with me, Wulf Hein (ArcTech) for providing
useful information about German finds, Mati Mandel (Estonian History
Museum), Silja Möllits (NGO AEG), Raido Roog, Erki Russow (Institute of
History, Archaeology and Art History, Tallinn University), Andres Tvauri and
Andres Vindi (Institute of History and Archaeology, University of Tartu) for
clarifying the find circumstances of some of the artefacts, Marja Ahola
(Department of Philosophy, History, Culture and Art studies, University of
Helsinki) for sharing information on the waterpolished pebbles in Finnish Stone
Age graves, Peter Leeming (University of Exeter) for providing statistics for the
fossil finds in Britsh and Irish graves, Mare Piho for sharing her thoughts on
curing stones, Reet Hiiemäe for discussing the toad- and snakestones in
Estonian folklore, and Ain Mäesalu (Institute of History and Archaeology,
University of Tartu) for discussing ammunition stones. I am grateful to Heidi
Luik, Irita Kallis, Ülle Tamla and Tarvi Toome from Archaeological Research
Collection of Tallinn University, Küllike Tint from Tallinn City Museum,
Krista Sarv from Estonian History Museum, Priit Kivi from Saaremaa Museum,
Marika Oder from Viljandi Museum, Eve Otstavel from Läänemaa Museum,
Rutt Tänav from Põltsamaa Museum, Riina Reinvelt and Vaike Reemann from
Estonian National Museum, and especially Arvi Haak from Tartu City Museum
for providing me information on and photographs of some of the finds. I value
highly the inspiration of Roberta Gilchrist (School of Archaeology, Geography
and Environmental Science, University of Reading), Eva S. Thäte, Sonja
Hukantaival and Timo Muhonen (School of History, Culture and Art Studies,
University of Turku), who, through their motivating articles and kind
discussions, encouraged me to take the path.
Last, but not least, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the
friends and colleagues who have listened to my doubts and urged me to go on,
but especially Riina, Mari, Ester, Arvi, Kristel, Tuuli, Mari-Liis and Marge.
Finally, special thanks are due to Ott and Miia for showing me every day that
magic really is not just the state of mind but also the state of body.
This research was funded by the Estonian Science Foundation (ETF grants
7375, 8956 and 9306), institutional research funding (IUT20-7) and targeted
funding (SF0180150s08) of the Estonian Ministry of Education and Research,
the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (the
Centre of Excellence in Cultural Theory) and the European Social Fund
(Graduate School of Culture Studies and Arts), Internationalisation Programme
DoRa and the Kristjan Jaak scholarships that are carried out by Foundation
Archimedes. The research was based on finds stored in the archaeological
research collections of the universities of Tallinn and Tartu, supported by the
Estonian Ministry of Education and Research.

In Tartu, October 2018
8