JFARCHAEOLOGY excavations in 2023

Here is a list of all our excavations in 2023. 

Every excavation is directed towards people with an interest in archaeology and we also welcome families. No previous knowledge of archaeology or archaeological excavations is needed in order to participate! Finnish, Swedish and English is spoken during the excavations.

You can book a spot at the excavation through the organizers webpage immediately when registration opens. Please act fast as many of the excavations are fully booked in a very short period of time.

There is a participation fee for the excavations that varies from 25 euros for five days to 180 euros for five days depending on the organizer. 

If you have any questions please don´t hesitate to ask, just send an email to jfarchaeology@gmail.com

Happy faces during the JFA excavations in Turku in 2022. 

May

1. Korpo, Brunskär (3.5.– 4.5.2023) 

With MA Jan Fast and MA Tryggve Gestrin.

Survey of a Maritime settlement site in the SW archipelago from the 16th to 18th centuries

Arranger: Brunskärs byalag.

2. Porkkala 1944-1956 Cold War Conflict Archaeolgy surveys (5.5.–7.5.2023) 

With MA Jan Fast.

Cold War Conflict Archaeology field school in Kirkkonummi and Sjundeå.

Arranger: Kirkkonummen kansalaisopisto.

The excavation on Facebook

3. Hanko 1941-1944 (8.5.–11.5.2023)

With MA Jan Fast and MA Fanny Fagerholm.

Conflict Archaeology excavations of Second World war sites in the vicinity of Hanko Front Museum.

Arranger: Hangö Sommaruni and Thure Galléns Stiftelse

4. Porvoo, Vävarsbacka II (15.5.–19.5.2023)

With MA Jan Fast and MA Janne Soisalo.

Archaeological excavation of a multiperiod stone age dwelling site in Porvoo S. Finland. The site has produced large amounts of finds from the Typical and Late Comb Ceramic culture, the Pyheensilta period and the Corded Ware culture.

Arranger: Borgå Medborgarinstitut.

5. Korsholm Castle (27.5.–31.5.2023)

With MA Jan Fast and archaeology student Jemina Rajamäki.

Archaeological excavation of a late Medieval fortress from the 14th Century in Vasa W. Finland.

Arranger: Medborgarinstitutet Alma.

June

6. Lohja, Kittiskoski E. (2.6.–5.6.2023)

With MA Jan Fast end MA Janne Soisalo.  

Excavation of a neolithic stone-age dwelling site in Lohja S. Finland.

Arranger: Hiiden Opisto.

7. Turku, Jäkärlä (7.6.–10.6 ja 11.6.–14.6.2023)

With MA Jan Fast and MA Janne Soisalo. 

Excavation of a stone age dwelling site (Jäkärlä culture) in Turku SW Finland.

Arranger: Åbo Arbetarinstitut.

8, Espoo, Kläppkärr (16.6.–21.6.2023)

With MA Jan Fast and MA Janne Soisalo.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site (early comb ceramic and corded ware culture) in Espoo S. Finland.

Arranger: Esbo Arbis.

 

9. Kouvola, Ruskiasuo (26.6.–30.6.2023)

With MA Jan Fast and MA Janne Soisalo.

Excavation of one of the earliest sites with finds of pottery in Finland (early Comb Ceramic period) in Kouvola E. Finland.

Arranger: Kouvolan Kansalaisopisto.

July

10. Kimitoön, Ölmosviken (24.7.–28.7 and 31.7.–4.8.2023)

With MA Jan Fast, MA Janne Soisalo, MA Fanny Fagerholm and BA Katja Hippeläinen.

Nordic amateur archaeology excavation camp NAU 2023 (Nordiskt Amatörkeologiskt Utgrävningsläger 2023). The excavation site in SW Finland dates to the late neolithic and early bronze age.

Arranger: Konstsamfundet.

REGISTER by sending an email to jfarchaeology@gmail.com

August

11. Åland, Geta (7.8.–11.8 and 14.8.–18.8.2023)

With MA Jan Fast, MA Janne Soisalo and MA Fanny Fagerholm. 

Excavation of a neolithic stone-age (Pitted Ware Culture and Corded Ware Culture) dwelling site on the Åland islands. Previous excavations have produced a very large amount of finds and tens of clay figurine fragments.

Arranger: Mariehamns Medborgarinstitut (MEDIS).

A few spots left for both weeks!

REGISTER HERE!

12. Hanko, Second World War Conflict Archaeology (21.8.–25.8. and 28.8.–1.9.2023)

With MA Jan Fast, MA Fanny Fagerholm, BA Elisa Melasniemi and BA Katja Hippeläinen.

Conflict archaeology excavations of Soviet General Sergei Kabanovs underground command post from the early days of "Operation Barbarossa" (1941) in central Hanko S. Finland.

Arranger: Thure Galléns Stiftelse and Hangö Sommaruni.

REGISTER HERE!

13. Kristinestad, Rävåsen  6.9-8.9.2023

With MA Jan Fast.

Pedagogic archaeology project, Archaeological excavation for students from Kristinestads gymnasium .

SOLD OUT!

September

14. Espoo, Monikko (11.9.–15.9.2023) 

With MA Janne Soisalo.

Archaeological excavation of a neolithic stone-age dwelling site (Late Comb Ceramic Culture).

Arranger: Helsinki Summer University

REGISTER HERE!

15. Korsholm Castle (11.9.–15.9.2023)

With MA Jan Fast and archaeology student Jemina Rajamäki.

Archaeological excavation of a late Medieval fortress from the 14th Century in Vasa W. Finland.

Arranger: SÖFUK

Planning in progress

16. Espoo, Monikko (16.9.–17.9.2023)

With MA Jan Fast and MA Janne Soisalo.

Archaeological excavation of a neolithic stone-age dwelling site (Late Comb Ceramic Culture).

Arranger: Leppävaara-seura ry.

SOLD OUT!

17. Porvoo, Vävarsbacka II (18.–22.9.2023)

With MA Jan Fast and MA Janne Soisalo. 

Archaeological excavation of a multiperiod stone age dwelling site in Porvoo S. Finland. The site has produced large amounts of finds from the Typical and Late Comb Ceramic culture, the Pyheensilta period and the Corded Ware culture.

Arranger: Porvoon kansalaisopisto.

REGISTER HERE!

 

18. Porkkala 1944–1956 Cold War Conflict Archaeology field school (23.–27.9.2023)

With MA Jan Fast.

Cold War Conflict Archaeology excavations in Kirkkonummi and Sjundeå.

Arranger: Kirkkonummen kansalaisopisto.

3 spots left

REGISTER HERE!

Excavating General Sergei Kabanovs underground command post. Day 7/10.

Today we excavated with students from Kallion lukio and Helsingin kuvataidelukio. With the help of these beautiful youngsters we were finally able to reach the floor level of the operational room and the bathroom of the command post.

A few untouched "architectural" details appeared today. Photo Katja Hippeläinen. 

Excavating the very fragile floor level was quite demanding and called for a great deal of flexibility from the participants. The rain and strong winds made excavation quite difficult too and it was easy to feel that summer has turned to autumn.

Todays excavation called for gymnastics and endurance in the windy and rainy weather ;)

The weather report says it will rain all day long tomorrow so we will spend the day indoors and visit the fantastic Hanko Front Museum and attend lectures about the search of fallen and missing soldiers (Finding the Fallen of the Hanko Front) and the excavations of the German Transition Camp in Hanko (Deutsches Lager Hanko 1942-1944). A guided tour at the museum is also on the programme.

A few final touches to this years excavation area before documentation on Thursday.

Excavating General Sergei Kabanovs underground command post. Day 6/10.

Back in Hanko again after a fabulous relaxing weekend at home. We  have finally reached the floor level of the Command Post. This is the part of the excavation we worked so hard for last week.

Wooden floorboards and floral pattern linoleum carpet adorning the generals bathroom and toilet floor. Photos Katja Hippeläinen.

Tomorrow we will be joined by some 20 students from Kallion lukio and Helsingin kuvataidelukio and this day was spent preparing the excavation area for them. The students will be in for a demanding task as they will be clearing away the last layers of sand covering the floors of the WW2 structure. 

Excavating inside the operative room and Kabanovs bathroom.

As we are already in mid September the weather is starting to become a bit unsteady. Heavy rain is expected in the region on Wednesday and Thursday so we will have to be ready with excavating the floor level by tomorrow evening at the latest. After this we will document everything properly (drone photography, photogrammetry etc.) in differenth light conditions before Friday when the excavation area will be filled in and the area returned to its pre-excavation state.

The wooden floorboards show through the linoleum carpet. Photo Katja Hippeläinen

Informal learning and pedagogic Modern Conflict Archaeology with students from local schools in Hanko.

Today we finally got much needed help when twenty students from nearby Hankoniemen lukio and Hangö gymnasium joined us. The students will dig into the Second World War for the next two days. 

Students from Hankonimene lukio sieving for Second World War finds today.

What a joy to it was see the energy and good mood of the students during todays work. The participation of the schoolchuldren was made possible with funding from Mr. Kari Karvinen, Hangö Sommaruni and AKTIA stiftelsen in Hanko. Because of their energy we were able to get a lot done today and will probably reach the floor level of the command post tomorrow afternoon. Not so many WW2 finds but as I told the students "the structure itself is the find".

The excavation progressed with great speed today thanks to the work done by the students.

Next year we will continue  to offer schoolchildren the opportunity to participate in the excavations of Kabanovs underground command post with funding from Thure Galléns stiftelse. 

Hanko Casino photographed from the south. The weather continues to be in our favor :)

Excavating General Sergei Kabanovs underground command post. Day 2/10.

The second day of the excavation was spent shoveling off the gravel layer that cover the massive  (but fragile remains of the command post. The reason for the fragility is that by the summer of 1941 the Soviet troops in Hanko had ran out of good quality concrete for the construction of the underground structure. Using the digger to uncover the soil layers closer to the brick and wood structures would have been to risky so we are forced to use lighter tools for the work... but we are slowly getting there :) 

Two days well spent shoveling. Tomorrow (finally) the real excavation begins,

Much like yesterday todays finds consisted of small fragments of porcellain and glass. These items are probably decades older than the command post itself and can be associated with activities in the adjacent Hanko Casino founded in 1879.

The beautiful Hanko Casino seascape <3

Tomorrow we will continue the excavation  with 20 students from Hankoniemen lukio and Hangö gymnasium. Needless to say we are looking much forward to that, we really need their help too :).

View towards Kabanovs underground command post from the S. and a piece of beautiful late 19th or early 20th century porcellain found today

Excavating General Sergei Kabanovs underground command post from the early days of Operation Barbarossa (1941). Day 1/10.

The last leg of the 2022 excavations of the massive underground command post of Soviet General Sergei Kabanov kicked off today. During the upcoming two weeks we will excavate the area of the operative room and try to get as much information as possible of the remains prior to the large scale excavations in 2023. 

General Sergei Kabanov was the commander of the Sovjet Naval Base in Hanko in 1941.

The underground command post was built in July-August 1941 after German planes had bombed Hanko and Finnish artillery pounded the besieged town on a daily basis. It was discovered by Swedish and Finnish troops in December 1941 after the Soviet troops had left Hanko.

General Kabanovs underground command post photographed soon after its capture by Finnish and Swedish troops in december 1941. Photos SA-Kuva.

In 1948 the people of Hanko wanted to leave the tragedies of war behind and get rid of the rapidly deteriorating command post. A decision was made to demolish the construction and re-use the tiles to build a new building called Halmstadsgården. 

A picture possibly showing the dismantling of the command post in 1948. Photographer unknown.

As the years went by in 2017 no one knew wether the command post had been completely demolished in 1948 or if parts of it still remained under ground. Ground penetrating radar and trial excavations in 2019 showed that parts of the building had survived remarkably well.

MA Teemu Väisänen used ground penetrating radar to relocate the remains of the command post

The excavation and resarch of the history of the site has received private funding from Mr, Kari Karvinen. The Conflict Arcaheology excavations are carried out in co-operation with Hangö Sommaruni, and Hanko Front Museum. In 2023 excavations of the command post with schoolchildren from swedish speaking schools in the larger Helsinki region will be conducted with the help of funding from Thure Galléns stiftelse.

Schoolchildren from Hanko excavating the command post in May 2022.

In the future and with the results of the excavation at hand we hope that the structure will be made into a tourist attraction and educational centre in Hanko.

A possibly late medieval signet ring fom Korsholm. Excavating Korsholm Castle day 5/6.

Last evening and this morning was spent crowdsourcing for possible information of the bronze ring that was found in the 1960´s on the southern slope of Korsholm Castle. As it turned out the ring is probably late medieval (from the 16th century). 

Cross symbol in the form of a swastika surrounded with rays of light. 

The swastika is actually a personal signature (puumerkki in Finnish) in the form of a cross possibly referring to Korsholm (Cross Island) where according to tradition a cross once stood in remembrance of the Christianization of the pagan Ostrobothnians. The owner of the ring was possibly a member of the bourgeoise who worked as lower rank clerk at Korsholm.

The finder of the ring standing  where he found the ring (in the center of the photo) some 60 years ago.

Todays excavation was a sucess as we managed to reach the upper part of the oldest find layer over the entire excavation area. We will halt the excavation here and continue our work next year. Many nice finds were found today including a nice musket ball, a silver rivet or button, tiles with markings on them and loads of glass, pottery and bone fragments.

Archaeologist Teemu Väisänen (right) oversaw the sieveing but also had time to participate and instruct the students in the excavation work

Bricks with markings.