Excursion to the South: the Raahe area.

This trip takes us to the Stone Age ruins of Kastelli in Pattijoki. Kastelli is the most representative example of a giant’s church, which are the largest Neolithic structures found in the Nordic countries. The trip then continues to a Late Stone Age settlement and cemetary in Kettukangas, Raahe, where we have the opportunity to explore structures pertaining to the production of train oil, among other things. In addition, we shall stop at two Iron Age sites on the way. Tervakangas, still in Raahe, contains burial mounds dating back to the Late Iron Age, while the site in Kaakkuri, Oulu, is a coastal cemetary containing a variety of graves from the Roman Age. We shall also visit the lovely 19th century wooden part of Raahe known as Old Raahe and its main attraction, the oldest local museum in Finland, situated by the sea shore.

Excursion to the North: the Kemi-Tornio region.

The excursion begins with a visit to Törmävaara, Tervola, a widely studied Late Stone Age site containing about 300 hut floors, mainly of terrace houses. From Törmävaara we head towards the town of Tornio to see Rakanmäki, which is one of the largest Roman Age settlement and burial sites in the North. We shall also make a stop at the Medieval church in Keminmaa, in the vicinity of which researchers have found relics of its wooden predecessors. Another interesting location well worth a visit in Keminmaa is Kiimamaa, an Early Metal Age settlement and cemetery. Yet another obligatory stop on the way is the town of Tornio, which was founded in 1621, although it was known as an international trading post well before its official establishment. Recently, excavations in the town have produced significant archaeological findings.

Excursion to the East: Kuusamo and Suomussalmi.

This two-day trip is recommendable for anyone interested in rock paintings and prehistoric relics found in the wilderness. We shall get a good look at the rock paintings in Värikallio and Julma-Ölkky, before moving on to Lake Kiantajärvi, along whose shores prehistoric findings are discovered almost annually. In addition, we shall also learn about the Russian Karelian culture in Hietajärvi and Kuivajärvi, where we’ll visit a beautiful tsasouna (Orthodox chapel). The trip extends to Suomussalmi’s Domna House, built in the Russian Karelian style.