Spatial perspectives on hearth row site organisation in Northern Fennoscandia through the analysis of soil phosphate content

The focus of this paper is to present new perspectives on the social and cultural aspects on spatial organisation of so called 'hearth rows' in Northern Fennoscandia. Previous studies have shown, based on geographical distribution and finds, that these sites are associated with native Sámi settlements and consist of linearly organised hearths dated to 800-1300 AD. In order to provide a deeper understanding of spatial behaviour and waste dispersal in hearth row settlements, information and data from three excavated sites are compiled, together with 14C analysis (bone and charcoal), detailed sampling and mapping of citric soluble soil phosphate, to enable a spatial analytical approach. On the basis of repeated spatial patterns observed in excavated and analysed data the authors provide new insights on the spatial organisation of these Sámi dwellings. Also, a generally accepted ethnographic model on how these dwellings and hearth areas were spatially organised is challenged.