Sunday, 26 January 2020

URGENT! The stone-age excavation in Espoo. Only 9 spots left!

The exciting excavation of the 6000 year old stone-age dwelling site is scheduled for  22.06.2020 - 27.06.2020. The site is very rich in finds from the early comb ceramic and corded ware culture.


Act now and secure a spot by clicking on the link below. We speak Finnish, Swedish and English. No previous knowledge of archaeological fieldwork is required and children under 14 years of age can participate in the company of an adult.

Wednesday, 22 January 2020

"Buried with care" a new exhibition at the Museum and Science Centre Luuppi

The interesting exhibition, “Buried with care” brings to life the human stories behind the graves under the floorboards and inside the churches of Northern Finland from the 13th to the 19th century. 

The coffin of a newborn child from the Keminmaa old church. Photo T. Kallio-Seppä.

The exhibition is based on recent archaeological excavations (1990-2010) in Oulu, Hailuoto, Ii, Tornio and Keminmaa. 

Researchers under the floorboards of Haukiputaa church. Photo S. Lipkin.

The exhibition is the third one in a series of exhibitions on the same theme. The two previous exhibitions where “Rungius, buried in a church” and “Anna, buried in a church”.

A flower made out of silk has been put in the hand of a deceased newborn child. Haukiputaa church. Photo S. Lipkin 

Pearls from a childs grave. Hailuoto old church. Photo S. Lipkin

The exhibition promises to apply to all senses. It also includes a virtual exhibit where the visitor can travel to the church of Keminmaa and familiarize him (or herself) with the mummy of chaplain Rungius and examine the deceases that computed tomography scanning of his mummified body has revealed.  

A cross shaped pendant was found in a womans grave during the excavations of the site of the medieval church of Ii in Hamina.

The exhibition is based on interdisciplinary scientific work at the University of Oulu and has been funded by the Emil Aaltonen Foundation and the Academy of Finland. The exhibition is produced in co-operation with archaeologists at the University of Oulu, Pohjois-Pohjanmaa museum, Tornionlaakso museum and Kemi historical museum.

Read more here:


Saturday, 11 January 2020

From Hanko to Pechenga


I´m currently in the process of writing a feature "WW2 Conflict Archaeology of the Nordfront" for "Iron Cross Magazine".

Over 60 million people perished in the Second World War and in this almost unapprehensive scale, the German losses and the events of the war on the northern front may seem tiny. Set against this backdrop the events that occurred in Lappland or the small seaside town of Hanko S. Finland, between 1942 and 1944 appear almost microscopic.

SS Kriegsberichters in Hanko 1941. Photo SA-kuva.


And still, the continuous stream of German soldiers heading for the battles of the “Eismeerfront” through Hanko and Finland between 1942 and 1944 is a reminder of the all engulfing power of a world war.

Photos of German soldiers who died on the in Finland during WW2 and a decaying German barrack in Hanko. Photo Japo Knuutila.
These forgotten battlefields, long lost camps and decaying artefacts in the soil, tell thousands of different and personal stories about war.  The words of the German soldiers in their letters and diaries, photographs and documents, the slowly decaying barracks as well as the common and mundane artefacts in the soil, all bear witness of the helplessness that ordinary human beings felt and experienced amongst the crushing and devastating historical events of a world war.





"Iron Cross is the UK’s only magazine focusing entirely on German military history from 1914 to 1945. It launched with great success in June 2019 and is available worldwide in both print and digital formats.

Iron Cross puts the German military under the microscope; looking at organisations and tactics, as well as at materiel, technology, politics and the more personal and human elements of the German serviceman’s experience.

The content covers the land, sea and air war across all periods of both wars and is written by a team of international experts and historians. To a more limited extent, it covers the inter-war period in Germany between 1919 and 1939."

Sunday, 5 January 2020

Bradshaw Foundation - Ancient Rock Paintings in Finland and Scandinavia!


"Ismo Luukkonen is a photographer living and working in Turku, Finland. For twenty years he has specialized on photographing rock art and other prehistoric sites, mainly in Finland and Scandinavia."

Part of the Värikallio rock painting in Hossa. Photo Ismo Luukkonen.

"In his work the documentary approach  to ancient images and landscapes is joined with thoughts on time, momentariness and eternity. Ismo Luukkonen also works as a senior lecturer of photography in the Arts Academy at the Turku University of Applied Sciences."

Links and more to Ismos amazing work here!


Saturday, 4 January 2020

Registration to the 2020 excavation in Elimäki starts in three days!!

Kouvolan Kansalaisopisto has announced that the registration for the 2020 excavation in Elimäki starts on January 7th at 9.30 am! There are 16 spots available for the excavation that runs from June 16th to June 18th 2020 so please act fast if you wish to paticipate!

The excavation was fully booked on January 7th 2020.

Early comb ceramic rimsherd from the 2019 trial excavation of the site. Photo Jan Fast.

This year we will continue the research of the Ruskiasuo stone-age dwelling site. The aim is to gain as much data as possible about this intriguing site to help preserve it for future generations. Last year the finds from the site showed that it had been inhabited both during the early comb ceramic and the corded ware culture period.

The stone-age dwelling site of Kouvola (Elimäki) Ruskiasuo. Photo Jan Fast. 

No previous experience of archaeology is needed in order to participate in the excavation. Children under 14 years of age can participate in the company of an adult.

Click here next Tuesday if you wish to register!

Friday, 3 January 2020

Registration for this years excavation in Porvoo has started!!!

The registration for this years community archaeology excavation in Porvoo has started. This years excavation will be the largest this beautiful neolithic stone age dwelling site so far! Update 3.1.23:20 hrs. THE EXCAVATION IS FULLY BOOKED.

Picture from the excavations in 2019. Photo Jan Fast.

The excavation will run from the 3rd  of June to June 7th 2020. It is possible to participate for one or several days. No previous knowledge of archaeology or archaeological fieldwork is required. Children under 14 years of age can participate in the company of an adult.

Comb ceramic potsherd. Photo Jan Fast

Register here and secure jour spot at the excavation in June!