In the proposed RJ Sabbatical project (2025–26), I will work on a book project, "Arctic Origins: Archaeology, Heritage and the Politics of the Past", building on my previous research. The book examines constructions and changing meanings of ”origins” in Nordic and Russian/Soviet archaeological and ethnographic research, focusing on the northern Indigenous peoples in Northern Fennoscandia and in northern Russia and western Siberia (such as the Sámi, Nenets, Khanty, Mansi), from the early 19th century until present times, from a comparative perspective.

At the center of the project is the notion of “origins”, with its complex historic and contemporary, scientific and political connotations. What is the meaning of “origins”, and why have archaeologists and others been so interested in examining and establishing the origins of the northern peoples?

Today, there is great need to rethink and critically analyze earlier scholarship on Russian and Soviet history and heritage. It is today more important than ever to critically examine the politics of the past in the northern areas, and the understanding of identities and borders in historical contexts.

The project contributes to debates on identity and heritage politics, building on scholarship in archaeology and heritage studies, colonial and postcolonial studies, Indigenous studies and Sámi studies, and critical comparative studies of scholarship East and West. The project includes research visits to the University of Helsinki, Finland.