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Archaeology of Arctic Aviation:
Uncovering Heritage of Northern Military Flying

The conflicts of the twentieth century shaped the Arctic and life in the circumpolar North in many ways. Associate Professor Oula Seitsonen will present ongoing research into how military aviation left lasting legacies in the Arctic, with case studies from Svalbard and northern Fennoscandia. The talk will be held in English.

The event has taken place


Uncovering Heritage of Northern Military Flying - a talk by Assosiate Professor Oula Seitsonen.

Svalbard Museum
25. Jun 2025
19.00 – 20.00

Blending archaeology, anthropology, archival research and citizen science, the research looks at how planes, things, people and ideas moved across vast distances in the North, and how these past movements continue to shape landscapes, identities, and memories of local communities today. We explore how this heritage challenges ideas of importance and ownership when it comes to the past and how local and indigenous voices can present different stories to those often dominated by national and military histories. Since 2024 our multidisciplinary team has worked in Sápmi, Finnish Lapland, and on Svalbard studying the material remains of aviation and comparing them to the lived experiences of northern communities. The traces of past military flights remain etched into the northern landscapes in many ways, including in abandoned airstrips, forgotten crash sites, and ruins of weather stations.

In addition to presenting preliminary results, this talk will seek feedback, stories, memories, and experiences regarding Arctic aviation from the audience.

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    Isfjord radio Oula Seitsonen
Museum24:Portal - 2025.07.11
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