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Kristin Ilves

University of Helsinki, Department of Cultures, Archaeology, Faculty Member

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Kristin Ilves is a tenure-track Professor in Maritime Archaeology at Helsinki University. Interested in maritime cultural landscapes, she is currently focusing in relating climate, environment, and culture change to each other and is particularly drawn to the construction of island identities. She has an extensive fieldwork experience and a fascination in the development of innovative techniques for the presentation of archaeological sites to public and professional audiences.

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Books by Kristin Ilves

Re-imagining Periphery: Archaeology and text in northern Europe from Iron Age to Viking and Early Medieval Periods

This edited volume delves into the current state of Iron Age and Early Medieval research in the N... more This edited volume delves into the current state of Iron Age and Early Medieval research in the North. Over the last two decades of archaeological explorations, theoretical vanguards, and introduction of new methodological strategies, together with a growing amount of critical studies in archaeology taking their stance from a multidisciplinary perspective, have dramatically changed our understanding of Northern Iron Age societies. The profound effect of 6th century climatic events on social structures in Northern Europe, a reintegration of written sources and archaeological material, genetic and isotopic studies entirely reinterpreting previously excavated grave material, are but a few examples of such land winnings. The aim of this book is to provide an intense and cohesive focus on the characteristics of contemporary Iron Age research; explored under the subheadings of field and methodology, settlement and spatiality, text and translation, and interaction and impact. Gathering the work of leading, established researchers and field archaeologists based throughout northern Europe and in the frontline of this new emerging image, this volume provides a collective summary of our current understandings of the Iron Age and Early Medieval Era in the North. It also facilitates a renewed interaction between academia and the ever-growing field of infrastructural archaeology, by integrating cutting edge fieldwork and developing field methods in the corpus of Iron Age and Early Medieval studies. In this book, many hypotheses are pushed forward from their expected outcomes, and analytical work is not afraid of taking risks, thus advancing the field of Iron Age research, and also, hopefully, inspiring to a continued creation of new knowledge.

Fortifications in their Natural and Cultural Landscape: From Organising Space to the Creation of Power

by Kristin Ilves, Sebastian Messal, and Jens Schneeweiß

Long-term Degree Program Success in Maritime Archaeology

by Marko Marila and Kristin Ilves

format_quoteStaff discontinuity frequently leads to program cancellations; integration with other disciplines is crucial for long-term success in maritime archaeology education.format_quote

Seaward Landward. Investigations on the archaeological source value of the landing site category in the Baltic Sea region

Ilves, K. 2012. Seaward Landward. Investigations on the archaeological source value of the landin... more

Papers by Kristin Ilves

Flax use, weeds and manuring in Viking Age Åland: archaeobotanical and stable isotope analysis

by Santeri Vanhanen and Kristin Ilves

Vegetation History and Archaeobotany, 2025

Charred masses of nearly 100,000 Linum usitatissimum (flax) seeds were found in house remains fro... more Charred masses of nearly 100,000 Linum usitatissimum (flax) seeds were found in house remains from Tjudnäs on the Åland Islands, Finland, and radiocarbon dated to ad 880-1020. The flax seeds were large and discovered in lumps, which indicates that they had been pressed for their oil. The flax was accompanied by seeds of Cuscuta epilinum, Lolium remotum, Galium spurium and Camelina alyssum/sativa, which are specific weeds of flax fields that mimic it in the flax fields and during crop processing. Several of these species have now become extinct or rare after the introduction of more effective methods of weed control and less flax growing. This find demonstrates the antiquity of this obligate flax weed flora, which appears to have been introduced to Åland together with flax seeds intended for cultivation. Thousands of cereal grains discovered in Viking Age/early medieval (ad 750-1300) Kohagen show that a broad range of crops was grown, with high proportions of Triticum aestivum (naked wheat). Stable isotope analyses of carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) ratios were done on the flax from Tjudnäs and other crops from Kohagen, all from samples dated ad 880-1020. The analyses showed high values of δ 15 N, which can be explained by considerable soil enrichment with manure, possibly also with maritime resources such as seaweed and fish. The δ 13 C values varied between crops, with those for flax being lower than for cereals and Pisum sativum (peas), which could reflect different environmental conditions or differences in plant physiology. The factors affecting δ 15 N and δ 13 C in flax are, however, poorly understood due to the lack of experimental studies.

'Perspectives in Maritime Archaeology': Challenging Popular Perceptions through Online Learning

Public Archaeology, 2023

In 2019-21, research was carried out at the University of Helsinki regarding the development of t... more In 2019-21, research was carried out at the University of Helsinki regarding the development of the degree programme in maritime archaeology. To develop the teaching of the programme, we designed and launched an online learning platform. The platform, entitled 'Perspectives in Maritime Archaeology', consists of lectures by international experts and literature on a variety of topics ranging from boatbuilding to seamanship and from trade and exploration to public outreach and contemporary art. The purpose of the platform was to convey a broad image of the discipline and promote multidisciplinary thinking among students. To assess the success of the platform in achieving this objective, we conducted surveys on student expectations and satisfaction as well as on (potential) changes in the perceived image of maritime archaeology. We discovered that a kaleidoscopic and eclectic approach to teaching maritime archaeology online made the topic more interesting to the students and helped them understand the variety and importance of different approaches to researching maritime archaeology. In this article, we report the findings of our research on the development of online learning and discuss them in the wider context of higher education in maritime archaeology. We conclude with a reflection on the potential use of poetry and metaphor in teaching holistically about the cognitive and cultural relevance of water.

Versatility as a cultural niche: palynological evidence on Iron Age and medieval land use on the Åland Islands

Acta Borealia 40(2), 2023

The quantitative archaeological record of the Åland Islands (Finland) indicates a population boom... more The quantitative archaeological record of the Åland Islands (Finland) indicates a population boom in the mid-sixth century CE. Yet the number of palynological investigations on Åland is limited, resulting in a knowledge gap of anthropogenic landscape modification generated by the land use that followed the increased population. This article presents the results of a pollen analysis from Lake Lavsböle Träsk in central Åland, covering the period from the end of the Bronze Age into the modern period. The results of this study provide evidence of continuous land use throughout the Iron Age and the medieval period, and the population boom during the sixth century CE is indicated in the pollen signal. Altogether we argue for an economy based on cereal cultivation, animal husbandry, and maritime resource utilization (e.g. seal hunting, fishing, and fowling) as well as trading. The results indicate a society able to manage risks connected to their subsistence strategies, in which versatility seems to have had a key role.

Microscopic fibres in soils -The accumulation of textile fibres and animal hairs at the 6th-11th-century CE Kvarnbo Hall settlement site on the Åland Islands, Finland

by Tuija Kirkinen and Kristin Ilves

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 47, 2023

Microscopic animal and plant fibres detected in archaeological contexts are a valuable source of ... more Microscopic animal and plant fibres detected in archaeological contexts are a valuable source of information regarding textile production, use-histories of artefacts and in studying mortuary practices. At the same time, recent research on microplastic pollution has revealed the ability of fibres to move even long distances and accumulate in various terrestrial and aquatic contexts. In this paper we discuss the accumulation of 100-1000µm-long animal hairs, bird feather barbules and textile fibres at Kvarnbo Hall, a Nordic Late Iron Age high-status settlement site in the Åland Archipelago, Finland. The hairs and barbules detected in soil samples reveal important information on the use of furs and downy feathers at the site. However, our study reveals that the microparticles sampled in the 6th-11th-century contexts represent not only the prehistoric phase of the site but can also be ascribed to the later land-use history of the area. We also speculate that long-distance airborne particles might be one possible contamination source of fibres.

Hus och vardag under yngre järnåldern på Åland

by Kristin Ilves and Kim Darmark

Åländsk odling : årsbok 73, 2022

Mikroskopiska djurhår och fågeldun berättar om forntidens lyx

by Kristin Ilves and Tuija Kirkinen

Åländsk Odling: årsbok 73, 2022

Approaching the complexity of Late Iron Age hillforts through their landscape setting: The case of the Åland Islands

Fortifications in their Natural and Cultural Landscape: From Organising Space to the Creation of Power, 2022

There are six hillforts on the Åland Islands-the large archipelago situated strategically amidst ... more There are six hillforts on the Åland Islands-the large archipelago situated strategically amidst the Baltic Sea. All six are estimated to belong to the Late Iron Age (AD 550-1050), i.e. to the period when the archipelago saw its greatest increase in human population and activity, following a large-scale colonisation process prompted by the global climatic disturbances of the 6 th century AD. The hillforts, situated on bedrock hilltops and characterised by dry-stone walls built next to natural barriers, were located on different islands, but not all were closely connected to the coast and/or related to sea routes. Nor can the hillforts of this clearly restricted geographical setting be unambiguously connected to any clear or uniform settlement pattern. Although Late Iron Age Åland witnessed its greatest economic affluence as a result of the eastern expansion from Scandinavia, the region has generally been viewed as a peripheral area with a very marginal level of political complexity. However, recent research indicates that the view of Åland as a political periphery is in need of reconsideration. The period initiated by the migration of new communities into a region already populated was apparently a 'golden age' for the islands, and was distinguished by the construction of a new identity. Due to differences in the rich Late Iron Age archaeological material within the archipelago, there is also a growing amount of research suggesting that Åland consisted of different polities at that time. In this study, I will discuss the setting of Ålandic hillforts in the natural and cultural landscape, and will explore whether they can be regarded as symbolic manifestations of separate polities, i.e. organised groups with social hierarchies and conventions of conduct differentiating themselves from other organised groups.

Social Buildings: Soil Geochemistry and Anthropogenic Patterns from Late Iron Age Finland

Journal of Field Archaeology, 2022

We present geochemical data of soils sampled from two Late Iron Age (A.D. 550-1050) buildings at ... more We present geochemical data of soils sampled from two Late Iron Age (A.D. 550-1050) buildings at Bartsgårda on the Åland Islands, Finland. The houses had different constructions and use-patterns, one being an intensively used dwelling house, rich in finds, whereas the other, scarce in finds, had a more specialized character, linked to ceremonial rather than domestic activities. Systematic and targeted feature sampling was carried out to analyze 190 samples using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (ED-XRF) to 1) identify floor/activity levels in the houses based on vertical and horizontal geochemical anomalies; 2) compare the anthropogenic activity signals of the buildings; and, 3) test a rapid and cost-efficient ex situ analytical strategy for geochemical characterization of archaeological soils. Although the long-term use of the site as a livestock paddock introduced some complexities, based on the geochemical and micromorphological data, the houses had several activity levels and markedly different anthropogenic profiles.

format_quoteSignificant anthropogenic anomalies in layer 4 of House 1 demonstrate a peak in activity linked to food preparation and refuse production.format_quote

Pollen evidence in exploring settlement dynamics, land use, and subsistence strategies in the Åland Islands through multiproxy analyses from the Lake Dalkarby träsk sediment record

Environmental Archaeology, 2022

In this study, presenting pollen, charcoal, and “soot”-particle records from a lacustrine sedimen... more In this study, presenting pollen, charcoal, and “soot”-particle records from a lacustrine sediment core, the development of the cultural landscape around Lake Dalkarby träsk on the Åland Islands in Finland is scrutinized and discussed within a broad temporal setting in order to clarify the long-term interplay between the environment and human activities in this part of the archipelago. Special emphasis is given to the transition period from the Late Iron Age to the medieval times due to the dominating humanistic discourse on the settlement dynamics in this region, as in the Åland archipelago in general, arguing for an approximately 150-years-long hiatus in habitation between these two periods, from AD 1050 to 1200. Our results do not support the theories of the hiatus in habitation, but show a long and continuous history of the utilization of land and forest resources starting from prehistoric times. The forests were first cleared with fire for slash-and-burn cultivation. Thereafter, structural diversity in the landscape started to increase. By 1240, the pollen data portrays a picture of a developed agrarian community with a subsistence economy based on arable farming and animal husbandry in which hemp seems to play a substantial part.

format_quoteThe data contradicts theories of a 150-year habitation hiatus (AD 1050-1200), showing no signs of population decline or land abandonment.format_quote

Representations of maritime archaeology in two national newspapers of Finland: a comparative perspective between Helsingin Sanomat and Hufvudstadsbladet

by Kristin Ilves and Meri Leppäsalko

Oodeja Mikalle. Professori Mika Lavennon juhlakirja hänen täyttäessä 60 vuotta / Odes to Mika. Professor Mika Lavento’s Festschrift as he turns 60 years old, 2022

The article analyses representations of maritime archaeology in 136 newspaper articles published ... more The article analyses representations of maritime archaeology in 136 newspaper articles published in Helsingin Sanomat and Hufvudstadsbladet between 2017 and 2020. In both newspapers, maritime archaeology is dominantly represented through underwater (nautical) source material. This corresponds with the focus in Finnish maritime archaeological research where sites and materials situated on land receive less attention. Following on from these observations, it is argued that the maritime cultural heritage on land remains an untapped research potential. As increasingly attractive tokens of maritime heritage on land, special attention is paid to the phenomenology of lighthouses.

format_quote81 out of 100 maritime archaeology articles focus on underwater environments, indicating a dominance of underwater narratives in Finnish journalism.format_quote

A compositional study of a gold-plated Viking Age pendant from the Åland Islands

Fornvännen, 2022

The archaeologists within: Uniting different interests in heritage within a contentious setting

Journal of Community Archaeology and Heritage, 2022

In this article, I argue for the value of community inclusion, transparency, and engagement in ef... more In this article, I argue for the value of community inclusion, transparency, and engagement in efforts to change attitudes towards archaeology, using a case from Åland, an autonomous archipelago in the Baltic Sea. With its own legislation concerning the protection of archaeological sites, archaeology on Åland has been a contentious subject for decades. This culminated in 2013 with the controversial trial and conviction of a family for severely and knowingly damaging one of the Stone Age sites on Åland. Against this backdrop, I initiated a project concerning an Iron Age settlement site. I discuss my experience of setting up an independent research project with a focus on publicly engaged archaeology and storytelling within an initially hostile framework, and in a region where archaeology is highly professionalized. The article also illustrates how friction around a community-oriented project can arise between stakeholders as a result of the social dynamics of archaeology itself.

format_quoteTransitioning to a publicly engaged archaeology was crucial to gain acceptance, turning conflict into collaboration with local landowners.format_quote

Political upheaval, external influences and domestic traditions: The emergence of the nineteenth-century Ålandic yacht

by Kristin Ilves and Jan-Erik Engren

International Journal of Maritime History, 2021

This article examines the emergence of the nineteenth-century Ålandic peasant yacht within the la... more This article examines the emergence of the nineteenth-century Ålandic peasant yacht within the larger political, economic and social context of the central and northern Baltic Sea region. Through an analysis of the region's fluctuating and changing trading environment following the Finnish War of 1808-1809, it is demonstrated that the increasing uncertainty, as well as decreasing profitability, of previously stable trading relations provided the necessary impetus to change the traditional vessel design. Avenues for both foreign and domestic innovations are examined. In addition to exogenous influences, wherein the role of the Ålandic peasant sailors' involvement in the Swedish navy is accentuated, the effects of the increasing smuggling activities of the archipelago's inhabitants and the competitive sailing environment that emerged during trading journeys are considered as factors that possibly affected shipbuilding. The results highlight the complex networks and processes through which innovations are generated, transmitted and adopted.

Maritime Archaeology in Finland: History and Future Tasks

Journal of Maritime Archaeology, 2021

This article provides an account of the history, present state, and possible future directions of... more This article provides an account of the history, present state, and possible future directions of Finnish maritime archaeology in order to elucidate certain aspects characteristic of the field. In the Finnish context, academia and the heritage sector are historically interconnected, and professionals have successfully assumed responsibilities in both. Research opportunities, however, have been more numerous at the Finnish Heritage Agency (FHA) than in academia, whereas the focus has been on well-preserved wrecks mainly from seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. This can be explained by the great number of registered shipwrecks from the historical periods being managed by the FHA. Well-preserved shipwrecks are also central for hobby divers' interest that has been historically paramount for the development of the field. At the same time, discontinuities in academic training of maritime archaeologists have created a situation where opportunities for long-term and indepth research at universities have been few. Future prospects of Finnish maritime archaeology are discussed with respect to the current state, and the interconnectedness of the heritage management sector, academically trained maritime archaeologists, and avocational diving societies and volunteers is emphasised as a key element in continued development.

Finnish Maritime Archaeology through its Publications

Internet Archaeology 56, 2021

This article analyses Finnish maritime archaeology through a compiled bibliography of 621 scienti... more This article analyses Finnish maritime archaeology through a compiled bibliography of 621 scientific and popular works published between 1942-2020. General trends and turning points in the history of the discipline are identified and discussed visa -vis temporal and topical foci discerned in the publications. Special attention is drawn to the concentration in Finnish research on shipwrecks from the historical period, and the low international visibility of scientific production is problematised. While largescale projects have been carried out in Finnish maritime archaeology, knowledge production within the authorised heritage discourse in particular has aimed to fulfil the needs of local and national rather than international audiences. Our compiled bibliography, which is hereby made available to the wider research community, has potential to become a valuable tool for identifying and developing future research areas.

format_quote421 works focus on shipwrecks; 107 specifically on the 18th-century Vrouw Maria, highlighting its significance in Finnish maritime archaeology research.format_quote

Tukholman Vrak-museo on vaatimaton esitys Itämeren vedenalaisesta kulttuuriperinnöstä

Muinaistutkija, 2022