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!

JFA excavations in 2024

Upcoming and planned community archaeology excavations in 2024. No previous knowledge of archaeology is needed in order to participate. Youngsters under 14 years of age can participate in the company of an adult.

We welcome you to the facinating world of archaeology. Please send a letter of interest to jfarchaeology@gmail.com if you see something you like.

            April

1.                         ”Wohls Manor" 24.4–28.4.2024.

SOLD OUT!

Excavation of the cellar of the Manor House and trial excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

            Arranger: Sparbanksstiftelsen i Kyrkslätt.

            May

2.                          ”Porkkala 1944–1956” 4.5. – 8.5.2024.

Cold War Conflict Archaeology excavation

Arranger: Kirkkonummen kansalaisopisto.

Register here!

3.                         ”Hanko 1941” 13.5 – 16.5.2024.

Excavation of a Second World War structure on the Hanko Front.

Arranger: Hangö Sommaruni ”Konfliktarkeologi pass 1” / Thure Galléns stiftelse.

4.                          

                  Hanko, Tulliniemi ”Deutsches Lager Hanko 1942–1944” 20.5. – 24.5.2024.

Excavation of a German Second World War German transition camp.

Arranger: Hangö Sommaruni ”Konfliktarkeologi pass 1” / Thure Galléns stiftelse.

5.                          Hanko Tulliniemi ”Deutsches Lager Hanko 1942–1944” 27.5. – 31.5.2024.

Excavation of a German Second World War German transition camp.

Arranger: Hangö Sommaruni ”Konfliktarkeologi pass 3”/ Thure Galléns stiftelse.

 

            June

6.                          Porvoo, Vävarsbacka II 3.6. – 9.6.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Arranger: Borgå Medborgarinstitut/Porvoon kansalaisopisto.

SOLD OUT!

7.                          Turku, Jäkärlä 10.6 – 14.6.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Arranger: Åbo svenska arbetarinstitut 

SOLD OUT!

8.                          Espoo, Kläppkärr 15.6 – 20.6.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Arranger: Esbo Arbis.

SOLD OUT!

9.                          Vantaa, Jokiniemi 24.6. – 28.6.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Arrangers: Heureka and Helsingin seudun kesäyliopisto

Register here!

            July

10               Vantaa, Jokiniemi 1.7. – 5.7.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Arrangers: Heureka and Helsingin seudun kesäyliopisto

Register here!

                                

11              Nordiskt Amatörarkeologiskt Utgrävningsläger 2024 Åland, Geta 21.7. – 26.7.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Arranger: Mariehamns Medborgarinstitut (MEDIS). 

SOLD OUT!

12              Nordiskt Amatörarkeologiskt Utgrävningsläger 2024 Åland, Geta  28.7.– 2.8.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Arranger: Mariehamns Medborgarinstitut (MEDIS). 

SOLD OUT!

            August

13               Kimitoön 7.8. – 11.8.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Arranger: Kimitoöns vuxenistitut/Kemiönsaaren aikuisopisto.

Register here!

14               Kouvola, Ruskiasuo 12.8. – 16.8.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Arranger: Kouvolan kansalaisopisto.

Registration starts 27.5.2024.

15               Korpo, Brunskär 19.8. – 23.8.2024.

Excavation of an island settlement from the 19th to the 17th Centuries

Arranger: Brunskärs byalag.

16               Kristiinankaupunki, Rävåsen 26.8. – 30.8.2024.

Excavation of a stone-age dwelling site.

Planning in progress.

September

17              Vasa, Korsholm 2.9. – 6.9.2024.

Ecavation of Korsholm Castle and Kings Manor with local schools.

Arranger: Svenska Österbottens förbund för utbildning och kultur SÖFUK

SOLD OUT!

18               Vasa Korsholm 7.9. – 11.9.2024.

Ecavation of Korsholm Castle and Kings Manor.

Arranger Alma opisto

Registration starts May 15th.

            Vasa Korsholm 12.9. – 17.9.2024.

Ecavation of Korsholm Castle and Kings Manor with Österbotten Fornforskningssällskap

Arranger: Svenska Österbottens förbund för utbildning och kultur SÖFUK

            Planning in progress  

20               ”Porkkala 1944–1956” 27.9. – 30.9.2024.

Cold War Conflict Archaeology excavation

Arranger: Kirkkonummen kansalaisopisto.

Planning in progress.

Happy days exploring the stone-age in Turku Jäkärlä

The huge stone-age dwelling dwelling site in Jäkärlä NE of Turku has been excavated by numerous Finnish archaeologists for over 100 years. Despite this the area still "keeps on giving" plenty of interesting finds related to the Jäkärlä Culture (4050-3850 BC) and the Corded Ware Culture (2900-2100 BC).

Jäkärlä during excavations in 1907 (photo Björn Cederhvarf).

This year the excavation was arranged in two parts ranging from 7.6. – 10.6  and  11.6. – 14.6.2023. Some 40 persons participated in the excavation that was financed by Åbo Svenska Arbetarinstitut.

Excavation in progress.

This excavation revealed part of a stone-age house. The floor had been dug some 70 cms below ground surface. All of the finds from the structure could be attributed to the Jäkärlä culture. The finds included both beautifully decorated potsherd as well as stone artefacts like slate chisels, porfyrite scrapers and what could be a stone pestle.

 Assorted finds from this years excavation.

Next years excavation will probably run for a total of ten days. In 2024 we wish to be able to look closer at the nearby Corded Ware Culture dwelling site and complete the excavation of the house foundation. Why not join us then 💛

Fantastic finds from the 2023 excavation of Lohja Kittiskoski E.

As the saying goes "only excavate beautiful places" the saying fits perfectly for the Kittiskoski E site in Lohja W of Helsinki. 

The site is still close to water as it was during prehistoric times..

But it´s not only the setting that is beautiful but so are the finds from several different prehistoric periods from the early Comb Ceramic Period (ca 4500 BC) all the way until the early Iron Age (ca 200 AD). This years excavation was a rather short one and lasting only four days from June 2nd. until June 5th. 2023. The excavation was financed by Hiiden Opisto.

A few of this years finds (pottery, a flint arrowhead and a slate ring brooch) dating to the Typical Comb Ceramic culture (3900-3400 BC).

Features like hearths have been observed during previous excavations but this season we managed to excavate a well preserved one. Several bags of soil samples were taken for macrofossile and C14 analysis.

The hearth. Photo Jarno Ekman.

Next season we hope to be able to continue the excavations for a longer period of time. The site really deserves it.