An interdisciplinary perspective on the settlement history of the Baltic Sea Area
The Centre of Excellence Estonian Roots, in cooperation with the Collegium for Transdisciplinary Studies in Archaeology, Genetics and Linguistics at the University of Tartu is organizing an online course entitled An interdisciplinary perspective on the settlement history of the Baltic Sea Area.
The course provides an overview of the settlement history of the Baltic Sea area from the perspectives of archaeology, genetics, linguistics, and folklore, within the context of regional environmental conditions. In connection with this, it introduces theoretical and methodological approaches to studying the contacts that have taken place around the Baltic Sea.
The course is listed in the University of Tartu spring semester curriculum, and UT students can earn 3 ECTS credits (registration and detailed requirements are available in ÕIS; course code LTGI.00.011). The course is also offered to students of universities participating in the GLAD network (Uppsala University, Ghent University, University of Turku), who likewise can earn academic credits for completing the course.
In addition to students, everyone else interested is very welcome to participate, but we kindly ask to register HERE. A Zoom link will be sent to the email address provided in the registration form before the course begins.
Lectures will take place on Wednesdays from 16:15 to 17:45 (EET) via Zoom. The first online lecture will be held on 4 March 2026.
Schedule
March 4
Prof. Kristiina Tambets (University of Tartu):Introduction. CoE and Spatiotemporal patterns
Anneli Poska, Siim Veski (TalTech): Paleoclimate and Environment of the Baltic Sea region
March 11
Irina Khrustaleva (University of Tartu): Selected Aspects of the Stone Age in the Eastern Baltic
Prof. Mait Metspalu (University of Tartu): Ancient DNA perspective on Stone Age by the Baltic Sea
March 18
Prof. Gerson Klumpp (University of Tartu): Language relationship: The Uralic language family
Prof. Kristiina Tambets (University of Tartu): Reconstructing the history of Uralic language speakers using modern genomes and ancient DNA
March 25
Prof. Valter Lang (University of Tartu): Introduction to Bronze and Iron Age archaeology
Lehti Saag (University of Tartu): Ancient DNA perspective on Bronze and Iron Age by the Baltic Sea
Prof. Heiki Valk (University of Tartu): Natural and geographic factors as agents in forming the settlement, territorial units and cultures in the 6th-12th centuries
April 8
Eve Rannamäe (University of Tartu): Archaeozoology of the Baltic region: faunal history from the Mesolithic to the Modern Period
April 15
Mari Tõrv, Kristiina Johanson (University of Tartu):
Beyond survival: How food and subsistence define communities and places?
April 22
TBD: Medieval period by the Baltic Sea
April 29
Mari Väina, Reet Hiiemäe (Estonian Literary Museum): TBD
May 6
Prof. Karl Pajusalu, Miina Norvik (University of Tartu): Finnic languages in the Baltic Sea area
May 13
Kaarel Sikk (University of Tartu): The use of spatial models in investigating historical events in Estonia
Concluding remarks
