Return of Skulls from Sweden to Finland Sparks Research Interest at Vapriikki Museum in Tampere

The return of skulls from Sweden to Finland has garnered interest from Finnish researchers as well. Scientists at the Vapriikki Museum Center in Tampere are preparing to collect samples from these skulls, which could reveal numerous details about the health and lives of the deceased.

In the 1870s, Swedish anthropologists excavated skulls from four locations in Finland, transferring them to the collections of the Karolinska Institute in Sweden. After years of negotiation, the return date for these skulls has been confirmed as August 20.

Researchers at Vapriikki will analyze the samples to uncover insights into the lives and stories of these individuals. Ulla Moilanen from Vapriikki noted that analyzing the samples is essential as it allows these people and their life histories to be integrated into history. Multidisciplinary methods can provide information on the deceased’s lifespan, health history, familial relationships, and pathogens present in their bones. Dietary habits, including milk consumption, may also be assessed.

Vapriikki has experience with multidisciplinary techniques; they are currently researching medieval burials in Pälkäne.

The collection returned to Finland comprises 82 skulls, of which 45 have been identified as originating from Pälkäne. Eleven skulls come from North Savo and North Karelia, traveling to Kuopio and Joensuu after sampling. While the origins of the remaining skulls are known to be from Finland, the specific locations are not yet clear. The research and analyses of the samples are costly, prompting Vapriikki to seek funding assistance, alongside regional museums from North Savo and North Karelia.