32. Finnsteinen

Stein med mangfoldig bruk

Abstract

Finnsteinen was recorded in 2015 as two individual features: the stone itself, associated with Sámi religion, and an árran (hearth) located under an overhang on the stone.

The investigations revealed that there was no árran present but rather a charcoal layer extending along the entire eastern side of the stone. This layer contained a significant amount of fire-cracked flint, as well as some finds of iron, leather, and bone.

Many stories are connected to the stone, and it has been interpreted as both a dwelling site and a sacrificial stone. Our investigations suggest that the site may have been used repeatedly for short stays, but also that the stone—at least in more recent times—may have served as a sacrificial site.