Archaeology of Finland’s Only “Permanent Glacier”

The Past, Present and Future of the Ritničohkka Snowfield, Sápmi

Bibliographic Data

ID21875430
AuthorsOula Seitsonen (0000-0003-3792-0081, McDonald's (United States)), Markus Fjellstöm (Stockholm University), A Hakonen (0000-0002-6286-6040, University of Oulu), P Herva (0000-0002-5925-4406, University of Oulu), Roger Norum (0000-0002-4221-5777, University of Oulu), Sanna Seitsonen (The Ark), Sohvi Seitsonen (The Ark), Elsa Seitsonen (The Ark), Elvi Seitsonen (The Ark)
Year2025
Publication date2025-10-27
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Glacial Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2050-3393 • E-ISSN: 2050-3407
PublisherEquinox Publishing (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1558/jga.27599
OpenAlexW4415591784
LanguageEN
Citations received2

The first cryosphere archaeological survey in Finland underlines the exponential melt rates seen around the Earth. Our research shows that the formerly perennial Ritničohkka snowfield in Sápmi has completely vanished over the past two decades. Recent melting has uncovered notable assemblages of animal osseous material, which based on radiocarbon dating were deposited in the area over two millennia. Besides bones, the survey recovered traces of human use of this high alpine tundra region ranging from the Stone Age– Early Metal Period to the 20th century, related to indigenous Sámi reindeer husbandry, hunting and the Second World War. These findings speak of the continuing role of the perennial snowfields, jassa in Northern Sámi language, both for reindeer mobility and human activities. Based on the current irreversible and accelerating rate of annual snow and ice melt, soon the last traces of any long- term cryosphere archaeological contexts in Finland will likely soon perish

Archaeological science · Cave · Cryosphere · Radiocarbon dating · Snow · Tundra · Cryospheric studies and observations · Polar Research and Ecology · Winter Sports Injuries and Performance

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