Approaching historic reindeer herding in Northern Sweden by stable isotope analysis

A strong cultural connection exists between reindeer and modern Sámi identityand economy. Reindeer domestication is, however, a rather late event, andthere are many Sámi who live off resources other than reindeer herding. Theuse of stable isotope analysis on historic reindeer from different geographicareas can contribute to analysing both the processes involved in reindeer domesticationand different environmental utilization by the Sámi. In this study,reindeer bones from six different sites in northern Sweden, ranging in datefrom the 11th to the 20th century, were analysed for stable isotopes to studyhow reindeer have been utilized in various historic contexts – settlements,offering sites and a marketplace. The stable isotope analysis demonstrateddifferent practices in utilization of reindeer, such as foddering. Foddering issuggested to have caused the elevated δ15N values found in reindeer at theoffering sites Vindelgransele and Unna Saiva, as well as at the settlementVivallen. The analysis further indicates that the offering sites were used bysingle Sámi groups. An important outcome of our study is that the biologyof reindeer in Sápmi was culturally influenced by the Sámi even before thereindeer was domesticated.Finansiär:Stiftelsen Konung Gustaf VI Adolfs fond för svensk kultur