Ancient finds from Kuusamo

Kuusamo has been inhabited since the Stone Age. Numerous ancient finds tell about this time. More precisely, the finds date to the period 2000-3000 BCE.

There are also many remains of the Sámi settlement. The Forest Sámi, in other words the Lapps, inhabited Kuusamo and the Kuusamo region before the settlers. Traces of Sámi settlement can be found in the Kitka area. It has been confirmed that there have been at least two winter villages, or siida, in Kuusamo. As the name suggests, the Sámi lived in these villages only in winter. The rest of the time they lived elsewhere, hunting, and gathering. The Forest Sámi had hardly any reindeer, so there are hardly any traces of this livelihood.

In other words, there are many ancient finds from these times in Kuusamo.

Kitka’s bird witch, šhaman

The name “bird witch” comes from the bird shaped pendant and silver buckle found in the grave.
Kivilahti’s winter village/Talliskentät

The pits were covered with moss and branches.
The axe of Kuusamo

First, a pendant with a chain and four necklaces were found.
The cave paintings of Julma-Ölkky and Värikallio

A human figure resembling a “stick figure” has been painted on the rock.
The Halonen oven

The name Halonen comes from a hermit who lived there about 300 years ago.
The Sámi gravesites and burial islands

There are six gravesites in total, but two of these have not been dated to which era they belong.
The silver treasure of Pyhälahti

The money was mostly German pennies.
The silver treasure of Ukonlahti in Tavajärvi left behind the border

The axe-shaped pendants are similar to the Lämsänkylä pendants.