DOI issue:
Vol. VI : 3 1990
DOI article:Brady, Niall D. R.: Early ard pieces in Finnish museums
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49003#0172
162
NIALL D. K. BRADY
variety of subtypes can be recognised, it is
probable that the Tuura, had a range of uses
but that they did not come into being because
of a preconceived agricultural need (Huurre
1981, 213-214). That they first appear in the
Mesolithic, in a hunter-fisher economy, in-
dicates that a primal use in agriculture is un-
likely. The period of their developed form,
the Middle Neolithic, is not within what Hu-
urre terms the “big summer of the Stone
Age” (c. 5500-2500 B.C.), but still the climate
was warmer and more humid than today
(Huurre 1983, 57-58). In such an environ-
ment, the spread of agriculture is facilitated
and an adaptation of the Tuura to ardshares
may be envisaged. It is perhaps worth men-
tioning that in today’s cooler climate barley
can be cultivated as far north as 70 degrees
latitude (Darnell 1981, 173) (fig. 1). Thus, the
shares may be seen as a mid-Neolithic phe-
nomenon derived from a tool form which had
an older local ancestry which was possibly a
basis for other specialised implements.
Looking outside the North Bothnian area,
stonebarshares are found predominantly on
Orkney/Shetland and they are beginning to
be recognised in Ireland (Brady 1990). Tradi-
tionally the Northern Isles have had a strong
Nordic influence. It would be an interesting
debate to examine what, if any, relationship
the Nordic assemblage had with that on Ork-
ney/Shetland, particularly as both are be-
lieved to have flourished contemporaneously
(Rees 26-28; Darnell 169).
The possibility of other stone shares types
from Finland should be borne in mind. Out-
side the greater potential within the Rova-
niemi Ruura, it is possible that other areas of
Finland used different stone and implement
forms (Huurre 1983, 214). Meinander sug-
gests that a Neolithic axe type, the so-called
Kapeaterdinen Kirves, or narrow-bladed axes
were used in ploughing (Meinander 1954, 98-
100). However, the writer has been able to
Fig. 6a. Suggestions for reconstructions of stone
ard shares in bow ards (after Rees fig. 39) b. Con-
jectural working construction (after Reynolds),
c. Swiddenards (Schwendhaken) (after Vilkuna
fig. 4a) and suggestions for reconstructions of
stone ard shares in swiddenards. □ Vorschlage fur
die Anbringung von steinernen Scharen an sohlen-
losen Hakenpfliigen (nach Rees), b. Mutmahhche
Funktionsrekonstruktion (nach Reynolds),
c. Schwendhaken (nach Vilkuna) und Vorschlage
fur die Anbringung von steinernen Scharen an
Schwendhaken.
NIALL D. K. BRADY
variety of subtypes can be recognised, it is
probable that the Tuura, had a range of uses
but that they did not come into being because
of a preconceived agricultural need (Huurre
1981, 213-214). That they first appear in the
Mesolithic, in a hunter-fisher economy, in-
dicates that a primal use in agriculture is un-
likely. The period of their developed form,
the Middle Neolithic, is not within what Hu-
urre terms the “big summer of the Stone
Age” (c. 5500-2500 B.C.), but still the climate
was warmer and more humid than today
(Huurre 1983, 57-58). In such an environ-
ment, the spread of agriculture is facilitated
and an adaptation of the Tuura to ardshares
may be envisaged. It is perhaps worth men-
tioning that in today’s cooler climate barley
can be cultivated as far north as 70 degrees
latitude (Darnell 1981, 173) (fig. 1). Thus, the
shares may be seen as a mid-Neolithic phe-
nomenon derived from a tool form which had
an older local ancestry which was possibly a
basis for other specialised implements.
Looking outside the North Bothnian area,
stonebarshares are found predominantly on
Orkney/Shetland and they are beginning to
be recognised in Ireland (Brady 1990). Tradi-
tionally the Northern Isles have had a strong
Nordic influence. It would be an interesting
debate to examine what, if any, relationship
the Nordic assemblage had with that on Ork-
ney/Shetland, particularly as both are be-
lieved to have flourished contemporaneously
(Rees 26-28; Darnell 169).
The possibility of other stone shares types
from Finland should be borne in mind. Out-
side the greater potential within the Rova-
niemi Ruura, it is possible that other areas of
Finland used different stone and implement
forms (Huurre 1983, 214). Meinander sug-
gests that a Neolithic axe type, the so-called
Kapeaterdinen Kirves, or narrow-bladed axes
were used in ploughing (Meinander 1954, 98-
100). However, the writer has been able to
Fig. 6a. Suggestions for reconstructions of stone
ard shares in bow ards (after Rees fig. 39) b. Con-
jectural working construction (after Reynolds),
c. Swiddenards (Schwendhaken) (after Vilkuna
fig. 4a) and suggestions for reconstructions of
stone ard shares in swiddenards. □ Vorschlage fur
die Anbringung von steinernen Scharen an sohlen-
losen Hakenpfliigen (nach Rees), b. Mutmahhche
Funktionsrekonstruktion (nach Reynolds),
c. Schwendhaken (nach Vilkuna) und Vorschlage
fur die Anbringung von steinernen Scharen an
Schwendhaken.