Place-name perspectives on the Saami past

The importance of multidisciplinary source criticism

Authors

• Taarna Valtonen

Abstract

This paper presents some basic methods for studying early modern and prehistoric times of Saami communities with the help of place-names. The main aim is to point out the fundamental significance of source criticism in such studies. The roles of linguistic and cultural information in place-name studies are also discussed. As an example, a study on the place-name family Guivi by T. I. ltkonen is revisited and some relevant previously unpublished archaeological material is reported. Finally a framework for a well-constructed study that combines place-names and cultural information is presented.