The Archaeology of Reindeer Domestication and Herding Practices in Northern Fennoscandia

Abstract Animal domestication is a profound change for human societies, economies, and worldviews. The shifting definitions of animal reflect its varying process-like nature. Reindeer one the species whose not easily pinned down using standard research methodologies domestication. In recent years, advances in archaeological methodology conceptual understanding have opened new avenues on this topic. This review summarizes archaeology reindeer among Indigenous Sámi northern Fennoscandia. It compiles chronological framework with an emphasis development reindeer-herding practices human–reindeer relationships. I argue that while major transition to herding occurred from 15th century onward, small-scale characterized by interspecies sociality, cooperation, care developed earlier during Late Iron Age, regional variations timing details events. By focusing relationships embedded them, also domestication, general, relationship constructed constantly renegotiated everyday interactions animals.