Den samiske bjørnekulten

– arkeologiske spor til samisk historie og religion

Abstract

The Sámi bear graves - archaeological traces related to burial customs and rituals in natural cavities: This paper aims to present an ongoing research project about the Sámi bear graves in Norway. The paper focuses on bear graves related to burial customs and rituals associated with cavities. It also addresses the fact that, as can be seen from the many Rock carvings, dated from 8000–2000 BCE, the bear was often portrayed as a vital and significant animal to people in prehistoric times. The background to the project is the study of 30 bear burial sites known in Norway. In general, these date from 300 CE to early modern period, 1700s. This makes this burial custom one of the longest surviving burial traditions in Europe spanning almost two millennia.