Bioarchaeological analysis illustrates the life of a 16th-century Sámi individual from Kitka, Kuusamo, northern Finland

Abstract

Background In northern Finland, the 17th–19th centuries CE marked a transition from the semi-nomadic lifestyle of the Sámi, the indigenous people of northern Fennoscandia, to agriculture brought by Finnish settlers. This transition led to the disappearance of the Kemi Sámi language and the assimilation of their speaker communities into the Finnish population. Inhumation burials predating the Finnish settlement are rare. The oldest known burial from the region, dating to the turn of the 16th–17th centuries, comes from Kitka, Kuusamo. This study investigates the genetic, isotopic, and cultural aspects of the Kitka burial. Results The individual shows a clear genetic affinity with modern Sámi, and within Finland, shares the highest identity-by-descent (IBD) connectivity with present-day individuals living in the northeastern part of the modern administrative region of Lapland. Isotope data indicate that the individual spent their childhood farther north or northeast of their burial site, and reveal dietary changes associated with long-distance mobility over the course of their life. Strikingly, the results indicate that the individual resided outside of Finland, possibly in Iceland, during late childhood. The absence of a freshwater dietary signal in adulthood may suggest that the individual arrived in Kitka only shortly before their death. Conclusions The Kitka individual likely had genetic roots in the areas around the northeastern border of Finland, but travelled far from this region during their lifetime. These findings provide insights into the life of a historical Sámi individual and illustrate how bioarchaeology can contribute to a more nuanced understanding of Sámi histories.