Maritime Archaeologists Dive in the Suorva Dam Reservoir

The Lule River valley was dramatically transformed during the twentieth century through the expansion of hydropower. The Suorva Dam, built between 1919 and 1923 and subsequently raised on three occasions, is the largest of the valley’s fifteen hydropower reservoirs. Researchers are now investigating how this development affected Sámi cultural landscapes, livelihoods and land use around the Áhkájávrre reservoir.

“This project provides unique knowledge about an underwater world that has been lost forever. It highlights important contemporary societal issues, particularly conflicts between human rights on the one hand and the demand for resources and energy on the other. It is also of great value to the people affected, whose historical experiences can be made visible and discussed through this work,” says Dag Avango, Professor of History at Luleå University of Technology and leader of the research project.

The investigations are being carried out by researchers from Luleå University of Technology and archaeologists from Norrbotten Museum in collaboration with maritime archaeologists from Nordic Maritime Group and the Vaisa Sámi Association, following Sámi research ethics principles.

For the first time, maritime archaeologists have filmed the lakebed and submerged Sámi cultural heritage sites in the Áhkájávrre reservoir at the Suorva Dam. Photographic and video documentation is also being conducted using underwater drones.

The expansion of the Suorva Dam had major consequences for the Sámi people in the area. During the raising of the dam between 1939 and 1941, several Sámi settlements were submerged without any possibility of relocation, and their remains still lie on the reservoir bed today. To accelerate the development, special emergency legislation was introduced, allowing the work to proceed without consultation with, or compensation to, the Sámi people who lived and worked there.

The area affected by the Suorva Dam was a Sámi cultural landscape that had long been used for hunting, fishing and reindeer herding. The upper reaches of the Lule River formed a vital artery through this landscape, where Sámi settlements included buildings and structures connected to these traditional livelihoods. The project documents traces of the impact of water regulation both beneath the surface of the reservoir and along its shores, while Sámi experiences are being recorded through interviews and conversations.

“For the Vaisa Sámi Association, this project is a unique and important opportunity to continue work that we ourselves have pursued for many years. Through our collaboration with the researchers, we can now take the next step in our own documentation efforts and see how modern technology can complement our traditional knowledge. Our focus is entirely on cultural history. It is about preserving our history and ensuring that this knowledge remains for future generations,” says Viola Walkeapää, member of the board of the Vaisa Sámi Association.

The project contributes to the research initiatives Northern Sweden’s Water-Related Cultural Environments (NVK) and Conflict and Cooperation (KOSA), as well as to the public outreach activities of Norrbotten Museum.