Wohls through the centuries

Mission accomplished after five days of excavating and surveying the area and surroundings of Wohls Manor in Kirkkonummi. The results were very good indeed. We managed to map and document a previously unknown Corded Ware Culture dwelling site and record the long and complex history of the Manor itself.

The main building of Wohls manor photographed from the north. Photo Jarno Ekman.

2500 BC

Stone-age stray finds found in the fields around Wohls have indicated a neolithic dwelling site somewhere in the area. During previous visits by archaeologists natural circumstances had prevented the area from beeing surveyed in detail. This time the weather- and other conditons were on our side and a previously unknown Corded Ware Culture was found.

Surveying the newly found neolithic dwelling site and  whetstone that was found laying on the surface of the field. Photos Minna Turunen (left) and Jan Fast (right).

17th Century

A silver coin from the reign of Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689) minted in Reval in 1649. The history of Wohls began some 20-years earlier (in 1624) when the area was given to Riga Town Counsilor Dr. Ludwig von Hintelmann (1578-1643).

A silver coin from the reign of Queen Christina of Sweden (1626-1689) minted in Reval in 1649. Photo Jan Fast.

18th Century

An ornate brass shoe buckle that was found close to the remains of a cellar from the 18th century to the north east of the main bulding.

18th cntury finds were mostly found to the northeast of the main building. Photos Jan Fast.

19th Century

The finds from the 19th century were the most common ones and consisted of coins, brass and gilded buttons and glass & porcelain fragments.

The finds from the 18th century mainly included Swedish copper coins and bottle-fragments. Photos Jarno Ekman (left) and Jemina Rajamäki (right).

1918 The Finnish Civil War

During the battle of Sigurds (February 22nd-27th 1918) the main building served as a field hospital. Many broken medicine bottles dating to the Finnish civil war were found in the basement.

The basement of Wohls proved to contain many conflict archaeology finds from the Finnish Civil War (1918). Photos Håkan Näsman.

The interesting history of Wohls Manor revealed!

The first archaeological trial excavation and field survey of the 2024 field season will be in Kirkkonummi west of Helsinki where we will investigate the long and complex history of Wohls Manor. Children from nearby schools will also participate in the fieldwork. The excavation is financed by The Savings Bank Foundation in Kirkkonummi.

The cellar of the manor will also be documented during the research. 

Wohls Manor is located in a lush environment on the west bank of Humaljärvi in ​​Kirkkonummi. The manor was formed in the early 17th century and was included in the so-called “Överby donation”, a donation which was given to Ludvig Hintelman from Riga in 1624. Around 1670, chief forester Erik Bure bought a large part of the land and formed an estate complex with Wohls as his main farm.

Wohls in summertime.

Many finds from the neolithic stone age have been discovered in the nearby fields so the survey and trial excavations will also be about confirming the location of a stone-age dwelling site in the area.

 Late Comb Ceramic Culture  and Corded Ware Culture potsherds have been found near the manor.

Click on this link to learn more about the history of this fascinating place and tune in here to hear the latest news from the upcomin excavation.

https://wohls.fi/en/wohls-history/

Porkkala 1944-1956 Multidisciplinary Conflict Archaeology Research of a Soviet Cold War Period Tank Training Centre

After a long winter, this weekend it was finally time to kick off the 2024 field season. The extensive mostly untouched research area of a Soviet Cold War Period Tank Training Centre  provided the interesting setting. 

Part of the research area in an air surveillance photo from the 1950´s. The trails left by the tanks are clearly visible. Photo Jarno Ekman (right).

The fieldwork involved searching the fields near one of our main research areas for locations of dumpsites which could later be subjected to multidisciplinary conflict archaeology excavations. Many interesting areas of finds could be pinpointed during the two days of work on site.

Soviet T-34 and T-54 tank track links found earlier in the research area. Photos Jan Fast.

An interesting group of finds are the discarded broken spoons left by the Soviet soldiers (mainly tank crews), when their service was over. Other finds included uniform buttons, coins and parts of military gear.

  

   

A few of the finds from the surveys. Photos Jarno Ekman.

The surveys of the site will continue next weekend and be follwed up by excavations 4.-8.5.2024 so stay tuned!