Fragmented reindeer of Stállo foundations

This study focusses on the fragmented remains of unburnt reindeer skeletal elements found at three Stállo foundations and a hearth at Adámvallda in inland northern Sweden and Sápmi. Stállo foundations are usually identified as Sámi settlement sites for reindeer hunters or as the remains of an early Sámi pastoral society; however, the finds are scarce and often fragmented. In this study, I aim to study reindeer skeletal remains to gain an understanding of social practices in relation to the archaeological features where they were found. I approached this using radiocarbon (¹⁴C) and stable isotope (¹³C, ¹⁵N, ³⁴S and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) analysis. The results demonstrate that reindeer were the product of different social practices, such as hunting, gathering, and that they were entangled with humans in different practices.