Unusual Iceland connection found in Finnish grave

Archaeological researchers at the University of Turku in Finland, along with their colleagues, have made a remarkable discovery during isotope analysis of teeth from a Sámi individual. The findings suggest this person, who lived nearly 500 years ago, may have spent a portion of their life in Iceland.

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The grave was found in 1970 and has only been the subject of a few studies since.

The Sámi individual, likely died in their early forties, was buried near Lake Yli-Kitka in Kuusamo, Eastern Finland. The grave was initially discovered in 1970. The remains date back to the late 16th and early 17th centuries. Researchers Sanni Peltola and Ulla Nordfors, authors of a study published in BMC Genomics titled "Bioarchaeological analysis illustrates the life of a 16th-century Sámi individual from Kitka, Kuusamo, northern Finland," propose that the Sámi individual's presence in Iceland is highly unusual for the time.

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Two of our colleagues in the research group, Jussi-Pekka Taavitsainen and Mika Sarkkinen, Mika works at the museum that houses these specific bones, had a great interest in this grave and took bone samples in the 1990s, but waited for technology in isotope research to advance so they could conduct this research later.

Peltola explained that the grave has only undergone limited research since its discovery. However, advancements in isotope analysis technology in recent years allowed for a more in-depth study. The research team, comprising fourteen authors, focused on stable isotope analysis to determine the individual's diet and the geological origin of their drinking water. Different teeth provided insights into various periods of the person's life.

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It only happened in recent years, which means we have been working on the research of this grave.

Initial findings from the isotope analysis indicated the lowest values found in Finland, suggesting a potential connection to Iceland. The study utilized a Swedish silver coin found in the grave, minted in 1573, to help determine the burial's age. The researchers waited for technological advancements in isotope analysis to conduct this comprehensive study, which has now shed light on the individual's life and potential travels.

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We performed stable isotope analysis which tells us what kind of food the man consumed and from what kind of bedrock his drinking water came.