Jüri Selirand

Jüri Selirand
Born(1928-07-21)July 21, 1928
Vigala Parish (now, part of Märjamaa Parish), Estonia
DiedSeptember 11, 2017(2017-09-11) (aged 89)
OccupationsArchaeologist, historian, translator
Employer(s)Institute of History (Tallinn), Estonian Academy of Sciences (Estonian SSR Academy of Sciences)
Known forResearch on Estonian Iron Age burial sites and hillforts; early Estonian underwater archaeology (incl. work connected with Lake Valgjärv (Koorküla Valgjärv))
Notable workKoorküla Valgjärv (1965); Esivanemate kalmeküngastel (1967); Muinasaeg, muinasteadus, muinasteadlased (1989)
AwardsOscar Montelius Medal (1987); Order of the White Star (IV class, 2005)

Jüri Selirand (21 July 1928 – 11 September 2017) was an Estonian archaeologist, historian, and translator associated with archaeological research and heritage popularisation in Estonia.[1]

He worked for decades at the Institute of History in Tallinn (Academy of Sciences system) and is cited in overviews of Estonian archaeological collections as a long-time head of the institute's collections sector (until 1991).[2]

Career

Selirand's institutional career was closely tied to the Tallinn-based Institute of History (then within the Estonian SSR Academy of Sciences). A sector leadership role is described in institutional overviews of archaeological collections and their management history.[2]

In addition to research and collections work, Selirand also contributed to archaeological fieldwork reporting, appearing as an author/compiler in annual summaries published in the academy's proceedings series.[3]

Research

Broadcast material from Estonian Public Broadcasting has described Selirand as an early figure in Estonian underwater archaeology and has linked his work to the lake-settlement research at Koorküla Valgjärv (Lake Valgjärv).[4]

His published and bibliographically indexed work also includes writing on burial customs and related historical topics, reflected in subject bibliographies that list his archaeology-related chapters and articles.[5]

Honours

Selirand received the Oscar Montelius Medal in 1987 (as listed by the awarding Swedish learned society).[6]

In 2005, he was awarded Estonia's Order of the White Star (IV class) in an official state decorations act published in Riigi Teataja.[7]

Estonian period press also recorded his election as a foreign member of the Finnish Antiquarian Society (Suomen Muinaismuistoyhdistys) in 1976.[8]

Selected works

  • Koorküla Valgjärv. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1965
  • Esivanemate kalmeküngastel. Tallinn: Eesti Raamat, 1967
  • Muinasaeg, muinasteadus, muinasteadlased. Tallinn: Valgus, 1989
  • Muinas- ja vanaaeg: ajalugu VI klassile. Tallinn: Koolibri, 1995

Authority control

Selirand is listed in international library authority files (VIAF) under the National Library of Estonia authority record.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Selirand, Jüri (21.07.1928-11.09.2017)". Rapla Keskraamatukogu (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  2. ^ a b Tvauri, Andres. "Eesti arheoloogiliste kollektsioonide kujunemine ja hetkeolukord" (PDF). Eesti Muuseumide Veeb (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  3. ^ Selirand, Jüri (1974). "1972. aasta arheoloogiliste välitööde tulemused" (PDF). Eesti NSV Teaduste Akadeemia Toimetised. Ühiskonnateadused (in Estonian). 23 (1): 77–79. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  4. ^ "EESTI LUGU 85. Jüri Selirand". ERR audio archive (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  5. ^ "Eesti rahvaluule elektrooniline bibliograafia (S: Selirand)". Eesti Kirjandusmuuseum – folklore.ee (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  6. ^ "1987 Professor Jüri Selirand". Svenska Fornminnesföreningen (in Swedish). Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  7. ^ "Riiklike autasude andmine". Riigi Teataja (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  8. ^ "Oli ja on (Sirp ja Vasar, 9. juuli 1976)". DEA / DIGAR (dea.digar.ee) (in Estonian). Retrieved 5 February 2026.
  9. ^ "Selirand, Jüri, 1928–2017". VIAF. Retrieved 5 February 2026.