Domestication in Action. Past and Present Human-Reindeer Interaction in Northern Fennoscandia

Reindeer have been an integral part of the lives of people in Northern Fennoscandia in prehistoric and historic times. Today, reindeer herding practices are changing fast due to climate change, land use pressures and new technologies. This book outlines recent advances in the archaeology of reindeer domestication and the development of reindeer herding among the Sámi of Northern Fennoscandia, focusing especially on the identification and understanding of various reindeer herding tasks and practices through archaeological evidence and traditional knowledge.
Covering more than a thousand years of history, the book explores how reindeer herding practices have always been dynamic and adapted to the changing social, economic and environmental pressures. Whilst such practices have changed, they have also retained memory and tradition. The continuity and adaptation of this practice clearly demonstrates the resilience of reindeer herders and their animals, and the importance of their relationship in the changing Arctic.
This book will be of interest to scholars interested in archaeology, anthropology, and history of the Arctic, as well as local communities and reindeer herders.