The Archaeology of Folk Religion and Magic in the Nordic Region
: Hukantaival, Sonja
: Lipkin, Sanna; Kallio-Seppä, Titta
Publisher: Oxford University PressNew York, NY
: 2026
: The Oxford Handbook of Post-Medieval Archaeology in the Nordic Countries
: 590
: 603
: 978-0-19-775666-9
: 978-0-19-775669-0
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197756690.003.0037
: https://doi.org/10.1093/9780197756690.003.0037
This chapter discusses trends and challenges addressed by Nordic archaeologists concerning questions of post-medieval folk religion and magic, including the laities’ interpretations of Christianity and beliefs and practices regarding fortune, health, healing, and protection against harm. While the geographic focus of the chapter is on Finnish and Swedish archaeology, detours are made to other Nordic regions as well. A strong tradition of folklore studies has particularly encouraged archaeological discussions of the materiality of folk religion and magic in Post-Medieval times. While the archaeology of Nordic folk religion and magic is still in its early stages, the benefits of archaeology to the field provide the potential to reveal new information through excavation, setting practices and beliefs in their specific chronological contexts, and observing traditions in a long-term perspective.