30 September 2025
This weekend, archaeologist at the Sami Parliament, Arne Håkon Thomassen, visited Vesterålen to talk about archaeological finds and Sami cultural heritage in the region. On Friday 26.9 he held a free lecture at Øksnes Museum, and on Saturday 27.9 at Bø Museum, where many people had attended.
Thomassen wants to provide information to the local communities where several Sami cultural monuments have been found. This is partly because, according to him, there is a lot of “scaremongering” and myths going around about archaeologists, where they are only mentioned when an archaeological find stops development or is an obstacle to industrial development. Thus, the lectures were a way to nuance the archaeologists’ work with the management of cultural monuments.
Lecture in Øksnes. Photo: Øksnes Museum.
Thomassen referred to the cultural monuments that have been found in the region – and pointed out that where the most cultural monuments have been registered is not necessarily where there are the most cultural monuments. Finds are most often registered where people have development projects, e.g. business, cabins, housing, etc. Therefore, it was important for him to point out that a place without registrered cultural monuments does not mean that the place was without life.
During the lectures, Thomassen referred to specific issues, such as the development of Andfjord Salmon, and the Vestall route. Many cultural monuments have been found here during the planning of the power grid, in Bø 41 Sami cultural monuments were found on Verhalsan and 25 in Hellfjorden.
The new route will affect several cultural monuments. Photo: Øksnes Museum.
Something Thomassen emphasized was that the Viking Age (and the past in general) was not a monolith, but diverse. Therefore, it is not always easy to determine exactly what a cultural monument has been, and what is Sami or not Sami. How do you interpret the structures? Are they sacrificial places, accommodations, for trapping? How can you be sure what is Sami cultural heritage and what is not?
In addition, he emphasized that cultural heritage and monuments are something that belongs to everyone, and create a sense of local pride. The locals are the ones closest to the cultural heritage. They are the ones who know where the cultural monuments are, and perhaps know about interpretations and stories about them. Thus, they are very important in the work of registering cultural monuments. Myths and legends are also associated with places, but these are rarely recorded. An example is “Ellen in Melen”, a stone in Øksnes with an accompanying story about a fabled woman from the local community.
Thomassen has received help from locals in Øksnes to register cultural monuments. Photo: Øksnes Museum.
Few registrations of Sami cultural monuments have been made in Vesterålen. This is partly because it requires municipal funding and efforts. It is important to register while those who carry the knowledge are still alive, especially when it comes to Sami place names that are only used in the vernacular.
Finally, Thomassen mentioned ways in which Sami cultural heritage can be strengthened:
– Efforts to map Sami cultural monuments and Sami cultural heritage in the municipality.
– The local community must be involved in the registration process.
– Students can be involved in projects such as mapping and documentation.
– Information meetings, seminars and workshops can be arranged to increase awareness of the importance of Sami cultural heritage.
– Local museums and cultural institutions can be strengthened in their dissemination.
– Arranging handicraft and cooking demonstrations and workshops.
– School programs integrate and focus on Sámi history and cultural heritage.
– Cultural trails and information boards.
– Training and capacity building aimed at Sámi building preservation and vessel preservation.
Photo 1: Anne Pedersen from Vesterålen and surroundings Sami association shows off the Vesterål traditional Sami outfit, that is under construction. Picture 2: Arne Håkon Thomassen in front of the assembly. Photo: Bø Museum.
The audience asked, among other things, how to recognize the Sami cultural monuments in the landscape. You can read about this on the Sámi Parliament’s website: Samiske kulturminner og landskap – Sametinget
In addition, you can see already registered cultural monuments here: Hjem – Kulturminnesøk.
The public is also encouraged to contact Thomassen and the Sami Parliament if they come across anything that may be cultural monuments that have not been registered.
These were some good and content-rich lectures. Thank you for the cooperation, and thank you to everyone who participated in the lectures in Øksnes and in Bø!
The lecture tour is a collaboration between Vesterålen and the surrounding Sami Association, the Sami Parliament and Museum Nord.
