Sammallahdenmäki
This site consists of 33 stone cairns, dating mainly from the Bronze Age (1500-500 B.C.). It is an extraordinary example of Finland's Bronze Age culture because it presents the ancient monuments in a well preserved natural environment.
Two of the most spectacular cairns are the quadrangular "Chuch Floor" and the dike-like "Long Ruin of Huilu".
In 2002, eight cairns were excavated, revealing burnt human bone. This indicates that the cairns contained cremation burials.
Visit August 2005
The ICOMOS report on this site describes it as "spectacular in setting" and "remote". Sammallahdenmäki is well signposted from the major road between Tampere and Rauma. The number of visitors clearly has risen over the years, as there were "100 local schoolchildren" in 1999, and the guestbook now testifies some 10-20 visitors a day in summer. They come from all over the world, from the USA to China, to see this lonely place in Finland.
It still is a quiet and atmospheric place though. Brochures in different languages are available from a self service box and free for use. There is no entrance fee. The cairns are spread out over a rather large area, a track through the woods guides you along.
One can easily walk here for 1.5 hours. The stone cairns aren't the most impressive aspect of this WHS, it's the pristine nature that grabs you. The pure smell, the quietness, the wild mushrooms and foremost the moss that covers large parts of this area. Also I found its high degree of authenticity (sometimes lacking in other WHS) very refreshing.
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
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