Archaeology and the Social Sciences

Studying the social organization of Neolithic hunter-fisher-gatherers in Finland

Authors

• Sanna Kivimäki University of Helsinki

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30676/jfas.v33i2.116442

Abstract

Although aspects of the social organization of Neolithic (c. 5100–1800 calBC) hunter-fisher-gatherer societies1 in Finland have been referenced in archaeological literature since the early twentieth century (see e.g. Pälsi 1915: 108), up to the present time there has been little broad ranging analysis of the social forms of such groups. In the majority of the few case studies, Finnish-Neolithic societies have been described as generalized hunter-gatherers living in bands or, in some cases, as representatives of fairly developed tribal institutions (e.g. Halinen 2005: 104–105, 113; Seger 1982: 25, 31–32; Siiriäinen 1981: 33; for a definition of generalized hunter-gatherers, see Hayden 1997:12; the definition of band, see Service 1971b [1962]: 98, Service 1979 [1966]: 4–6; the definition of tribe, see Service 1971b [1962]: 131–132; Sahlins 1968: 15, 20–21, 24). Recently, it has been suggested (Okkonen 2003) that at least on the Middle and North Ostrobothnian coast, between about 3500–2500 calBC, the societies represented complex hunter-gatherers and were thus neither egalitarian nor stratified (Okkonen 2003: 219–226; for definitions of complex hunter-gatherers, see Arnold 1996: 78–79; Hayden 1997: 8, 11). The definition, identification and distribution of these societies have been under animated discussion in Anglo-American literature during the last few decades (see e.g. Arnold 1996; Hayden 1997; Rowley-Conwy 1998; Sassaman 2004; Zvelebil 1998).