Shared topographies, entangled beliefs: Sacred springs as part of a complex of revered sites in Southwest Finland

Beskrivning

Field visits to sacred springs in southwest Finland often reveals a richer topography of outstanding terrain features than the recorded lore about them would suggest. For example, hills with imposing cliffsides and solitary erratic boulders are often encountered in the vicinity of a sacred spring. Similar terrain features, as well as springs, are often found at other types of revered sites as well, such as sites known to be inhabited by devils, ghosts or local spirits. When viewed within a broader context of revered sites of vernacular belief, it seems that the sacred springs of southwest Finland refuse to stay within the confines of “sacred springs” as a defined type, but rather seem to be entangled with other types of sacred sites, which all share similar topographic features. Are sacred springs part of a broader complex of revered supernatural sites? Observations in the field can reveal very different divisions and typologies than literary or archival sources.

Period	1 juli 2024
Evenemangstitel	Sacred Waters: An International and Transdisciplinary Conference
Typ av evenemang	Konferens
Plats	Buxton, StorbritannienVisa på karta