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Tonno Jonuks

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Kaarel Vanamölder

University of Tartu

University of Tartu

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Kati Lindström

KTH Royal Institute of Technology

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Meelis Friedenthal

University of Tartu

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Papers by Tonno Jonuks

Sõjakas kaitse – konfliktid loodus- ja kultuuripärandi hoiu kujundamisel / Warlike Protection – Conflicts in Shaping the Preservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage

Methis. Studia humaniora Estonica, Dec 13, 2022

Teesid: Artiklis uurime Eesti looduse ja kultuuri kaitsel tekkinud teravaid vastasseise, mida osa... more Teesid: Artiklis uurime Eesti looduse ja kultuuri kaitsel tekkinud teravaid vastasseise, mida osalejad on mõnikord nimetanud sõdadeks. Näitejuhtumid ulatuvad pühapaikade kaitselt metsa ja linnalooduse kaitseni. Vaatleme artiklis, kuidas vastasseisud on arenenud, milliseid argumente kasutatakse ning millised konflikti osapooled neis eristuvad. Meie eesmärk ei ole otsida konfliktidele lahendusi või neid ennetada-selle asemel soovime mõista, miks mõnikord muutub looduse ja kultuuri kaitse sõjakat retoorikat kasutavaks konfliktiks.

Materiality of Magic in Estonian and Finnish Museums

Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore

This paper discusses objects connected with folk magic and medicine found in museum collections i... more This paper discusses objects connected with folk magic and medicine found in museum collections in Estonia and Finland. Our perspective is comparative as we compare these collections to other sources and to each other. The focus is on what kind of objects are found in the museum collections and how these differ between the two countries. We also explore how these materials have been acquired and collated. While we see general similarities between the magic objects in the two countries, there are also notable differences: remains of bears stand out in the Finnish collections while fossils are common in the Estonian ones. Although these observations may reflect a true difference in magic traditions, there are still potential sources of bias in the collections. Even though the museum collections in both countries were formed with romantic national overtones, the interests of individual collectors and curators influenced them in various ways.

Stone Age imitation of a slotted bone point from Pärnu River (south-western Estonia)

Estonian Journal of Archaeology

This is an in-depth study of a mimicked slotted point, carved from a cervid longbone, found in th... more This is an in-depth study of a mimicked slotted point, carved from a cervid longbone, found in the lower reaches of the Pärnu River. The 3D digital model, created during this study, provides an interactive and innovative tool for studying the object in detail. The AMS dating places the artefact at the very beginning of human habitation in the present-day territory of Estonia. SEM-EDS, ATR-FT-IR and GC-FID/MS analyses demonstrate that this unique object was probably originally partially covered with a mixture of red ochre and some coniferous resin, possibly as hafting adhesive. As this is a detailed replica of a slotted point, it also demonstrates how people themselves saw slotted points in the Early Mesolithic, also raising the question of the purpose of this replica – was it an ordinary arrowhead or rather a ritual object?

Metsarahva kujunemine: Retrospektiivne vaade müüdiloomele

Keel ja Kirjandus

Symbols in stone – a spindle whorl, a talisman or a magical object from Rattama farm, South-Estonia

Post-Medieval Archaeology

SUMMARY This article discusses a lithic object originally used as a mould for cross decorations a... more SUMMARY This article discusses a lithic object originally used as a mould for cross decorations and later reworked into the shape of a disc and inscribed with peculiar signs. Besides discussing the disc’s possible provenance and age, the emphasis of this study is put on the signs. It is suggested that even if zodiac symbols were the main inspiration for carving signs onto this disc, the purpose was not to depict only the zodiac circle itself but the meaning of the whole composition derived from Early Modern astral magic. Thus, the main function of the disc was most probably to solicit the help of some spirits and secure benefits for the owner of the disc.

Naljad kirikutegelastest Eestis ja Valgevenes XIX–XXI sajandil

Keel ja Kirjandus, 2019

From Nature Romanticism to Eco-Nationalism: The Development of the Concept of Estonians as a Forest Nation

Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore, 2021

Forest plays an important role in many North European national identities. The Estonian example i... more Forest plays an important role in many North European national identities. The Estonian example is one of the extreme cases as Estonians consider themselves a forest nation, the claim being backed up with references to both history and contemporary data. The article explores diachronically the formation of this motif in the Estonian national narrative and studies the nuances of intellectual and social history that have shaped the development of the concept from ethnic nature to eco-nationalism.

New Trends in the Study of Religion in Estonia – Contemplations in the Grey Zone between Religion and Science

Balkan and Balticum: Current Studies in the Postsocialist Space, 2017

The study of Estonian folk religion has traditionally been characterised by a relatively slight i... more The study of Estonian folk religion has traditionally been characterised by a relatively slight interest of academic scholars. Simultaneously, folk religion has been actively used in the creation of Estonian national identity. Such an old division has changed in the past fifteen years. Academic scholars have become more active in this field and concurrently a contemporary pagan movement has emerged as a new and influential participant in these studies. This national paganism has been presented not primarily as a religious movement but as cultural heritage. As a result, contemporary pagan views are partly accepted in scholarly works, thus creating a conceptually new understanding, in which religious arguments almost dominate over the classical academic ones. This paper criticises such an amorphous approach, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish religious, national, and academic arguments and purposes.

Instead of Introduction: How Old Is Sacredness?

Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore, 2021

It is customary that references to history are used to legitimise one’s ideological and religious... more It is customary that references to history are used to legitimise one’s ideological and religious statements. This method is particularly visible in contemporary pagan and spiritual movements, in which history has a crucial position not only in justifications of religious claims but also in searching inspiration for contemporary beliefs and for providing a structural framework for (re)constructing past religions. The commonest explanation for using history in arguments and rhetoric in religion is to add credibility to one’s claims. Examples can be found in traditional institutional religious organisations, in contemporary spiritual movements, but also in the rhetoric of individual charismatic leaders. Such rhetorical manner is not common to contemporary religions only but can also be followed in historical folk religion (see, e.g., Johanson 2018). For instance, in a record of a heavily worn eighteenth-century copper coin, used for healing magic in the early twentieth century, the ol...

Hiis-Sites in the Parishes of Rapla and Juuru

Estonian Journal of Archaeology, 2012

Holy places of Rapla and Juuru parishes in the surroundings of Keava hill fort in northern Estoni... more Holy places of Rapla and Juuru parishes in the surroundings of Keava hill fort in northern Estonia will be discussed in this chapter with special emphasis on a sole archaeological study at folkloristically known hiis-place at Paluküla. It shows that different holy places of one area had different meanings and probably also different ritual practices. Also a connection between medieval churches and pre-Christian cult places, an important issue in popular history, will be discussed. 1

Superstition in the House of God? Some Estonian Case Studies of Vernacular Practices*

When studying ritual practices in churches it is often the official rituals of institutionalised ... more When studying ritual practices in churches it is often the official rituals of institutionalised nature that have been focused on. The unofficial ones (magical, vernacular, popular interpretations) have been labelled as folk religion and have usually only been mentioned in passing. These two sides of ritual practices have traditionally been studied separately and due to the lack of systematic background the latter has often been treated as a collection of random magical acts that have little to do with Christian religion. Vernacular practices that seemingly have little or no connection with the official liturgy in churches have often been considered originating in the pre-Christian period, thus being pagan in nature. This in its turn has created a view of the syncretic nature of folk religion where pre-Christian and Christian elements have intertwined to form a mixture of popular interpretations of Christian liturgical elements. Contrary to such interpretations in this article we su...

Using Radiocarbon Dates and Tool Design Principles to Assess the Role of Composite Slotted Bone Tool Technology at the Intersection of Adaptation and Culture-History

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 2021

Slotted bone tools are an iconic example of composite tool technology in which change in one of t... more Slotted bone tools are an iconic example of composite tool technology in which change in one of the components does not require changing the design of the other parts. Commonly, slotted bone tools are seen through the lens of lithic technology, highlighting organizational aspects related to serial production of insets, reliability and maintainability. In this framework, slotted bone tool technology is associated with risk aversion in demanding environmental settings. Here, we provide the first overview of radiocarbon-dated slotted bone tools in northernmost Europe and the East European Plain, including 17 new direct dates on pitch glue, and show that the Late Pleistocene to Middle Holocene period of inset slotted bone tool use in this area shows marked variation and idiosyncrasy in associated lithic technology against a trend of continuously warming climate. We suggest that historical specificity and path-dependence, rather than convergent evolution, best explain the variability see...

Kes ja mis sa oled Eesti arheoloogia

Journal of Estonian Archaeology, 2003

uu.se. Publications. ...

Animals and Worldviews:: A Diachronic Approach to Tooth and Bone Pendants from the Mesolithic to the Medieval Period in Estonia

Using Radiocarbon Dates and Tool Design Principles to Assess the Role of Composite Slotted Bone Tool Technology at the Intersection of Adaptation and Culture-History

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 2021

Slotted bone tools are an iconic example of composite tool technology in which change in one of t... more Slotted bone tools are an iconic example of composite tool technology in which change in one of the components does not require changing the design of the other parts. Commonly, slotted bone tools are seen through the lens of lithic technology, highlighting organizational aspects related to serial production of insets, reliability and maintainability. In this framework, slotted bone tool technology is associated with risk aversion in demanding environmental settings. Here, we provide the first overview of radiocarbon-dated slotted bone tools in northernmost Europe and the East European Plain, including 17 new direct dates on pitch glue, and show that the Late Pleistocene to Middle Holocene period of inset slotted bone tool use in this area shows marked variation and idiosyncrasy in associated lithic technology against a trend of continuously warming climate. We suggest that historical specificity and path-dependence, rather than convergent evolution, best explain the variability see...

When the Moral Mentors Lapse: A Comparative Study of Estonian and Belarusian Clergy Jokes

Folklore

The Life and Times of an Estonian Mesolithic Slotted Bone ‘Dagger’. Extended Object Biographies for Legacy Objects

Estonian Journal of Archaeology

All too often archaeological objects are found as stray finds. As such, they have little or no co... more All too often archaeological objects are found as stray finds. As such, they have little or no contextual information, which often makes them difficult to handle analytically and in terms of their exhibition appeal. As a consequence, they often languish un-researched in museum storerooms and there is the critical risk that such objects fall victim to the ongoing curation crisis and are deaccessioned due to a perceived lack of value. Therefore, in this paper we aim to illustrate the applicability of an extended biographical approach to such legacy material by studying the changing character of the Ulbi dagger, an Early Mesolithic flint-edged bone dagger, in its both archaeological and modern contexts. By using both a combination of traditional archaeological methods, coupled with a critical analysis of past illustrations, the dagger went from an isolated, undated, and unique object to a tool with a complex life history extending more than 9000 years. Our analysis reveals multiple stages of manufacturing and ornamentation including the presence of possible anthropomorphic figures. Use-wear analysis also allows us to address the object's likely primary function. Finally, we speculate about its deposition and discuss previously overlooked post-recovery episodes of damage and repair.

Are We Afraid of Magic? Magical Artifacts in Estonian Museums

Material Religion

Mesolithic anthropomorphic sculptures from the Northern Europe

Quaternary International

Holocene relative shore-level changes and Stone Age palaeogeography of the Pärnu Bay area, eastern Baltic Sea

The Holocene

The shore displacement and palaeogeography of the Pärnu Bay area, eastern Baltic Sea, during the ... more The shore displacement and palaeogeography of the Pärnu Bay area, eastern Baltic Sea, during the Stone Age, were reconstructed using sedimentological and archaeological proxies and GIS-based landscape modelling. We discovered and studied buried palaeochannel sediments on the coastal lowland and in the shallow offshore of the Pärnu Bay and interpreted these data together with previously published shore displacement evidence. The reconstructed relative shore-level (RSL) curve is based on 78 radiocarbon dates from sediment sequences and archaeological sites in the Pärnu Bay area and reported here using the HOLSEA sea-level database format. The new RSL curve displays regressive water levels at −5.5 and −4 m a.s.l. before the Ancylus Lake and Litorina Sea transgressions, respectively. According to the curve, the total water-level rise during the Ancylus Lake transgression (10.7–10.2 cal. ka BP) was around 18 m, with the average rate of rise about 35 mm per annum, while during the Litorin...

Sõjakas kaitse – konfliktid loodus- ja kultuuripärandi hoiu kujundamisel / Warlike Protection – Conflicts in Shaping the Preservation of Natural and Cultural Heritage

Methis. Studia humaniora Estonica, Dec 13, 2022

Teesid: Artiklis uurime Eesti looduse ja kultuuri kaitsel tekkinud teravaid vastasseise, mida osa... more Teesid: Artiklis uurime Eesti looduse ja kultuuri kaitsel tekkinud teravaid vastasseise, mida osalejad on mõnikord nimetanud sõdadeks. Näitejuhtumid ulatuvad pühapaikade kaitselt metsa ja linnalooduse kaitseni. Vaatleme artiklis, kuidas vastasseisud on arenenud, milliseid argumente kasutatakse ning millised konflikti osapooled neis eristuvad. Meie eesmärk ei ole otsida konfliktidele lahendusi või neid ennetada-selle asemel soovime mõista, miks mõnikord muutub looduse ja kultuuri kaitse sõjakat retoorikat kasutavaks konfliktiks.

Materiality of Magic in Estonian and Finnish Museums

Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore

This paper discusses objects connected with folk magic and medicine found in museum collections i... more This paper discusses objects connected with folk magic and medicine found in museum collections in Estonia and Finland. Our perspective is comparative as we compare these collections to other sources and to each other. The focus is on what kind of objects are found in the museum collections and how these differ between the two countries. We also explore how these materials have been acquired and collated. While we see general similarities between the magic objects in the two countries, there are also notable differences: remains of bears stand out in the Finnish collections while fossils are common in the Estonian ones. Although these observations may reflect a true difference in magic traditions, there are still potential sources of bias in the collections. Even though the museum collections in both countries were formed with romantic national overtones, the interests of individual collectors and curators influenced them in various ways.

Stone Age imitation of a slotted bone point from Pärnu River (south-western Estonia)

Estonian Journal of Archaeology

This is an in-depth study of a mimicked slotted point, carved from a cervid longbone, found in th... more This is an in-depth study of a mimicked slotted point, carved from a cervid longbone, found in the lower reaches of the Pärnu River. The 3D digital model, created during this study, provides an interactive and innovative tool for studying the object in detail. The AMS dating places the artefact at the very beginning of human habitation in the present-day territory of Estonia. SEM-EDS, ATR-FT-IR and GC-FID/MS analyses demonstrate that this unique object was probably originally partially covered with a mixture of red ochre and some coniferous resin, possibly as hafting adhesive. As this is a detailed replica of a slotted point, it also demonstrates how people themselves saw slotted points in the Early Mesolithic, also raising the question of the purpose of this replica – was it an ordinary arrowhead or rather a ritual object?

Metsarahva kujunemine: Retrospektiivne vaade müüdiloomele

Keel ja Kirjandus

Symbols in stone – a spindle whorl, a talisman or a magical object from Rattama farm, South-Estonia

Post-Medieval Archaeology

SUMMARY This article discusses a lithic object originally used as a mould for cross decorations a... more SUMMARY This article discusses a lithic object originally used as a mould for cross decorations and later reworked into the shape of a disc and inscribed with peculiar signs. Besides discussing the disc’s possible provenance and age, the emphasis of this study is put on the signs. It is suggested that even if zodiac symbols were the main inspiration for carving signs onto this disc, the purpose was not to depict only the zodiac circle itself but the meaning of the whole composition derived from Early Modern astral magic. Thus, the main function of the disc was most probably to solicit the help of some spirits and secure benefits for the owner of the disc.

Naljad kirikutegelastest Eestis ja Valgevenes XIX–XXI sajandil

Keel ja Kirjandus, 2019

From Nature Romanticism to Eco-Nationalism: The Development of the Concept of Estonians as a Forest Nation

Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore, 2021

Forest plays an important role in many North European national identities. The Estonian example i... more Forest plays an important role in many North European national identities. The Estonian example is one of the extreme cases as Estonians consider themselves a forest nation, the claim being backed up with references to both history and contemporary data. The article explores diachronically the formation of this motif in the Estonian national narrative and studies the nuances of intellectual and social history that have shaped the development of the concept from ethnic nature to eco-nationalism.

New Trends in the Study of Religion in Estonia – Contemplations in the Grey Zone between Religion and Science

Balkan and Balticum: Current Studies in the Postsocialist Space, 2017

The study of Estonian folk religion has traditionally been characterised by a relatively slight i... more The study of Estonian folk religion has traditionally been characterised by a relatively slight interest of academic scholars. Simultaneously, folk religion has been actively used in the creation of Estonian national identity. Such an old division has changed in the past fifteen years. Academic scholars have become more active in this field and concurrently a contemporary pagan movement has emerged as a new and influential participant in these studies. This national paganism has been presented not primarily as a religious movement but as cultural heritage. As a result, contemporary pagan views are partly accepted in scholarly works, thus creating a conceptually new understanding, in which religious arguments almost dominate over the classical academic ones. This paper criticises such an amorphous approach, which makes it difficult, if not impossible, to distinguish religious, national, and academic arguments and purposes.

Instead of Introduction: How Old Is Sacredness?

Folklore: Electronic Journal of Folklore, 2021

It is customary that references to history are used to legitimise one’s ideological and religious... more It is customary that references to history are used to legitimise one’s ideological and religious statements. This method is particularly visible in contemporary pagan and spiritual movements, in which history has a crucial position not only in justifications of religious claims but also in searching inspiration for contemporary beliefs and for providing a structural framework for (re)constructing past religions. The commonest explanation for using history in arguments and rhetoric in religion is to add credibility to one’s claims. Examples can be found in traditional institutional religious organisations, in contemporary spiritual movements, but also in the rhetoric of individual charismatic leaders. Such rhetorical manner is not common to contemporary religions only but can also be followed in historical folk religion (see, e.g., Johanson 2018). For instance, in a record of a heavily worn eighteenth-century copper coin, used for healing magic in the early twentieth century, the ol...

Hiis-Sites in the Parishes of Rapla and Juuru

Estonian Journal of Archaeology, 2012

Holy places of Rapla and Juuru parishes in the surroundings of Keava hill fort in northern Estoni... more Holy places of Rapla and Juuru parishes in the surroundings of Keava hill fort in northern Estonia will be discussed in this chapter with special emphasis on a sole archaeological study at folkloristically known hiis-place at Paluküla. It shows that different holy places of one area had different meanings and probably also different ritual practices. Also a connection between medieval churches and pre-Christian cult places, an important issue in popular history, will be discussed. 1

Superstition in the House of God? Some Estonian Case Studies of Vernacular Practices*

When studying ritual practices in churches it is often the official rituals of institutionalised ... more When studying ritual practices in churches it is often the official rituals of institutionalised nature that have been focused on. The unofficial ones (magical, vernacular, popular interpretations) have been labelled as folk religion and have usually only been mentioned in passing. These two sides of ritual practices have traditionally been studied separately and due to the lack of systematic background the latter has often been treated as a collection of random magical acts that have little to do with Christian religion. Vernacular practices that seemingly have little or no connection with the official liturgy in churches have often been considered originating in the pre-Christian period, thus being pagan in nature. This in its turn has created a view of the syncretic nature of folk religion where pre-Christian and Christian elements have intertwined to form a mixture of popular interpretations of Christian liturgical elements. Contrary to such interpretations in this article we su...

Using Radiocarbon Dates and Tool Design Principles to Assess the Role of Composite Slotted Bone Tool Technology at the Intersection of Adaptation and Culture-History

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 2021

Slotted bone tools are an iconic example of composite tool technology in which change in one of t... more Slotted bone tools are an iconic example of composite tool technology in which change in one of the components does not require changing the design of the other parts. Commonly, slotted bone tools are seen through the lens of lithic technology, highlighting organizational aspects related to serial production of insets, reliability and maintainability. In this framework, slotted bone tool technology is associated with risk aversion in demanding environmental settings. Here, we provide the first overview of radiocarbon-dated slotted bone tools in northernmost Europe and the East European Plain, including 17 new direct dates on pitch glue, and show that the Late Pleistocene to Middle Holocene period of inset slotted bone tool use in this area shows marked variation and idiosyncrasy in associated lithic technology against a trend of continuously warming climate. We suggest that historical specificity and path-dependence, rather than convergent evolution, best explain the variability see...

Kes ja mis sa oled Eesti arheoloogia

Journal of Estonian Archaeology, 2003

uu.se. Publications. ...

Animals and Worldviews:: A Diachronic Approach to Tooth and Bone Pendants from the Mesolithic to the Medieval Period in Estonia

Using Radiocarbon Dates and Tool Design Principles to Assess the Role of Composite Slotted Bone Tool Technology at the Intersection of Adaptation and Culture-History

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory, 2021

Slotted bone tools are an iconic example of composite tool technology in which change in one of t... more Slotted bone tools are an iconic example of composite tool technology in which change in one of the components does not require changing the design of the other parts. Commonly, slotted bone tools are seen through the lens of lithic technology, highlighting organizational aspects related to serial production of insets, reliability and maintainability. In this framework, slotted bone tool technology is associated with risk aversion in demanding environmental settings. Here, we provide the first overview of radiocarbon-dated slotted bone tools in northernmost Europe and the East European Plain, including 17 new direct dates on pitch glue, and show that the Late Pleistocene to Middle Holocene period of inset slotted bone tool use in this area shows marked variation and idiosyncrasy in associated lithic technology against a trend of continuously warming climate. We suggest that historical specificity and path-dependence, rather than convergent evolution, best explain the variability see...

When the Moral Mentors Lapse: A Comparative Study of Estonian and Belarusian Clergy Jokes

Folklore

The Life and Times of an Estonian Mesolithic Slotted Bone ‘Dagger’. Extended Object Biographies for Legacy Objects

Estonian Journal of Archaeology

All too often archaeological objects are found as stray finds. As such, they have little or no co... more All too often archaeological objects are found as stray finds. As such, they have little or no contextual information, which often makes them difficult to handle analytically and in terms of their exhibition appeal. As a consequence, they often languish un-researched in museum storerooms and there is the critical risk that such objects fall victim to the ongoing curation crisis and are deaccessioned due to a perceived lack of value. Therefore, in this paper we aim to illustrate the applicability of an extended biographical approach to such legacy material by studying the changing character of the Ulbi dagger, an Early Mesolithic flint-edged bone dagger, in its both archaeological and modern contexts. By using both a combination of traditional archaeological methods, coupled with a critical analysis of past illustrations, the dagger went from an isolated, undated, and unique object to a tool with a complex life history extending more than 9000 years. Our analysis reveals multiple stages of manufacturing and ornamentation including the presence of possible anthropomorphic figures. Use-wear analysis also allows us to address the object's likely primary function. Finally, we speculate about its deposition and discuss previously overlooked post-recovery episodes of damage and repair.

Are We Afraid of Magic? Magical Artifacts in Estonian Museums

Material Religion

Mesolithic anthropomorphic sculptures from the Northern Europe

Quaternary International

Holocene relative shore-level changes and Stone Age palaeogeography of the Pärnu Bay area, eastern Baltic Sea

The Holocene

The shore displacement and palaeogeography of the Pärnu Bay area, eastern Baltic Sea, during the ... more The shore displacement and palaeogeography of the Pärnu Bay area, eastern Baltic Sea, during the Stone Age, were reconstructed using sedimentological and archaeological proxies and GIS-based landscape modelling. We discovered and studied buried palaeochannel sediments on the coastal lowland and in the shallow offshore of the Pärnu Bay and interpreted these data together with previously published shore displacement evidence. The reconstructed relative shore-level (RSL) curve is based on 78 radiocarbon dates from sediment sequences and archaeological sites in the Pärnu Bay area and reported here using the HOLSEA sea-level database format. The new RSL curve displays regressive water levels at −5.5 and −4 m a.s.l. before the Ancylus Lake and Litorina Sea transgressions, respectively. According to the curve, the total water-level rise during the Ancylus Lake transgression (10.7–10.2 cal. ka BP) was around 18 m, with the average rate of rise about 35 mm per annum, while during the Litorin...