People living in the area of Finland have never been a homogeneous group. Our cultural, genetic and linguistic heritage all have a diverse background and are in a constant state of change. People, ideas, customs and diseases have always moved from place to place and left their mark on the population. In a major research consortium, researchers are studying how these marks are still visible in people.
This year, the Elias Tillandz Prize was awarded to two outstanding research articles, which involved a mechanism related to the migration of cancer cells and a new analysis of a grave dating back to the early Middle Ages. The Prize was awarded to the researchers at the BioCity symposium on Thursday, 24 August 2023.
Archaeological research often focuses on broad geographical areas, time periods, or big data. In wide generalisations, nuances and details are lost. Ulla Moilanen studied Medieval (c. 900 – 1400 AD) inhumation graves in Finland and found out that the period was more diverse than previously thought.
The modern re-analysis of a weapon grave found in Suontaka, Hattula in Finland over 50 years ago challenges the traditional beliefs about gender roles in the Iron Age and Early Medieval communities and reveals information about the gender expressions of the period. The grave also functions as a proof of how non-binary people could have been valued and respected members of their communities.
The multidisciplinary nature of archaeology provides an excellent foundation for close-knit collaboration with various institutes and research centres.
Our research activities focus on the Iron Age and recorded history, and we conduct our research in Finland and the Baltic Sea region. Our department is also an active participant in research that focuses on the medieval era of the City of Turku. In addition, we are developing the use of methods that stem from the natural sciences in archaeological research. We also aim to integrate our students into our research projects.
Students of Archaeology find employment in different posts related to archaeology and cultural heritage. This education qualifies students for, among others, different tasks at the Finnish Heritage Agency, museums, Metsähallitus, universities, and private enterprises and organisations.
Archaeology researches the past by focusing on the material traces left behind by human societies and communities. The discipline focuses on both the prehistoric and historical periods, and its methods include e.g. archaeological excavations and other types of field work. This research often combines different perspectives from the natural sciences and the humanities.