From remains to leads and research results. How do archaeological source materials alter our conception of medieval Turku?

Liisa Seppänen bases her article on the statement of professor of cultural history Veikko Litzen, an expert on medieval history: “Medieval history should be rewritten with a decisive emphasis on unwritten sources. On the other hand, medieval history could be rewritten without a single new source.” In her article, Seppänen examines the foundation of the city of Turku, the milestones of its formation and growth, the buildings and city image and the adoption of innovations, based on archaeological and written sources. Archaeological materials help connect events with certain points in time, allowing the events to be examined in a new historical context. City image, an aspect largely neglected in written sources, receives a tangible appearance in archaeological materials as excavations reveal the changes that have taken place in buildings, streets and the cityscape with time. Seppänen not only presents new information on medieval Turku revealed by archaeological materials, but also opens up the path for cross-scientific cooperation firmly based on archaeological materials.