Second World War Conflict Archaeology research in Hanko

Back home again after ten interesting days of Battlefield- and Conflict Archaeology research of the Hanko 1941-1944 project in Hanko, South Finland . The days incuded both pedagogic archaeology for schools in the surroundings of Hanko Front Museum and searching for missing and fallen soldiers on the mainland and in the archipelago. 

Most of the battles of the Hanko front were fought in the archipelago. Like in 1941 the journey here had to be made by boat. Photo Wilma Gourdon-Larsson.

The community archaeology fieldschool and pedagogic research was funded by Thure Galléns Stiftelse and Svenska Folkskolans Vänner (SFV:s Sommaruni). This years leg of the  Finding the Fallen of the Hanko FRront project was made with financial support from The Association for Cherishing the Memory of War Dead (Sotavainajien Muiston Vaalimisyhdistys ry.). Archaeology students from Lund and Uppsala university participated in the forensic work.

   

The research of the battlefields and rear areas were preceeded by lectures at the  Hanko Front Museum 

The community archaeology excavations and surveys produced much needed new information about the living conditions of the soldiers on the frontline and behind it on both sides of the conflict. The search for war dead was also successfull this year as we managed to find the exact spot were one Swedish volunteer from Svenska Frivilligbataljonen (SFB) was killed and map his patrols last minutes.

A few of the small finds from the excavations and surveys in May 2025.

The Conflict Archaeology Field Schools continue in September. Please join us by registering through the SFV website https://www.sfv.fi/sv/evenemang/view-155738-117042# or send an email to jfarchaeology@gmail.com for more info! Please visit the Hanko 1941-1944 project website https://hanko1941-1944.fi/ for more info about our multidisciplinary research.