found in graves also represent common types, it is difficult to say with certainty whether
a Viking buried somewhere along the Eastern Route was a Finn or not.
The finds also include certain groups of finds that are considered evidence of direct
contacts with the east. These include a number of so-called Permian belt mountings
and the so-called Permian strike-a-light with bronze handle, which was widespread in
the Nordic countries and known, for instance, from Hedeby and Birka. The wide
distribution indicates, however, that the strike-a-lights were valued trade goods, not
that they were brought to Finland by Finnish voyagers.
One special find category that points to the east is the so-called clay paws, which are
common in late Iron Age graves on Åland. Most of these objects represent beaver paws,
some have been thought to represent bear paws or perhaps human hands. The Åland
paws have no parallels on the Finnish mainland, but similar objects are common in
central Russia. The Russian paws derive from graves that have been characterised as
Finnish. They are thought by Russian archaeologists to represent specifically beaver
paws and have been connected with a particular beaver cult that appeared among Finnic
tribes in eastern Russia. It is evident that there is a connection between the clay paws
from Åland and central Russia, and according to chronological evidence the implement
originated on Åland. The question is nevertheless complicated by the fact that the
beaver is not found on Åland, nor is there any other archaeological evidence of close
contacts between the two areas. One possible explanation is that the beaver cult, like the
bear cult, had a wider distribution than the finds indicate, and that the original custom
was to place real beaver and bear paws in the graves. When real paws were not available,
clay substitutes were used. In the same way, bear teeth were represented by bronze
‘copies’.
One prerequisite for the Viking Age Nordic expansion and trade was the double-
ended, clinker-built ship known from Nordic ship finds and including graceful
sea-going long (war)ships for coastal voyages and wider freight-carrying types with a
greater draught and dimensions. Viking Age boat graves show that large ships with oars
and sails were also built – or at least used – in Finland. A different boat-building
technique was used in the inland area, and the vessels were smaller. Instead of being
fastened together with iron rivets, the planks were sewn together with spruce
roots. Sewn boats are known from a number of bog finds. These vessels, which were
especially flexible and well adapted for running rapids, represent an old tradition and
technique.
TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATIONDue to its geography Finland, like the other Nordic countries, is a region where various
methods of travel and transportation have always played an extremely important role.
Hunting required both sleds and skis. The most simple type of sled was the ski sled, a
low hand-drawn sled on thin and narrow runners that had up-curved ends in order to
clear snow obstacles. Heavier loads, of course, required larger-capacity sleds. Many
runners for sleds like these have been found in bogs. Sleds were also used for travelling
in the Viking Age; evidence for this includes drawings on Gotland picture stones.
Communications, both commercial and social, undoubtedly improved once the winter
ice set in, and the freeze-over also made special winter resources available. At the
same time, however, ice travel also required special knowledge about the ice and its
–– chapter 35: The Viking Age in Finland––