Astuvansalmi Rock Paintings

Google Maps:
61.444172848, 27.543883534

Type of site:
Outdoor rocky outcrop

Place of location: 52360 Hirssaari
Village/Town: Ristiina
Municipality: Mikkeli ()
Region: South Savo, Saimaa Geopark
State: Finland
Website: https://www.visitmikkeli.fi/en/palvelut/astuvansalmi-rock-paintings
E-mail: matkailu@mikkeli.fi

Natural Environment:

Prehistoric rock paintings on the granite vein intersecting the mica gneiss rock wall can be found in Astuvansalmi.

Archaeological evidences in the site:

A number of archaeological artefacts have been found around Astuvansalmi. Small amber statuettes of ancient gods (Ukko and Akka), for example, were recovered from the bottom of the lake at the foot of the site. Objects of personal adornment representing animal forms have also been found, one of them a bear’s head. The ornaments and statuettes may be connected with rituals and spiritual beliefs celebrated at the site. Arrowheads have also been found, typologically dated between 2200 and 1800 BC and between 1300 and 500 BC. Near Astuvansalmi in Heiniemi, Stone Age settlements have been found with chronologies between 3300 and 2800 BC.

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Opening Times:

Open every day. Boat trips from Kallioniemi and Hotel Anttolanhovi. By car, the parking is located 3 km from the site (It is necessary go by walk to the paintings -3 km)

Booking and access:

www.visitmikkeli.fi

Nearby cultural destinations:

Nearby natural destinations:

www.visitsaimaa.fi

Accommodations (Tourism Website):
https://www.visitmikkeli.fi/majoitu
Restaurants (Tourism Website):
https://www.visitmikkeli.fi/syo-ja-juo

Age of the artistic representations:

The oldest paintings were made about 3000–2500 BC. They are located at the highest level (about 11 metres). The water level changed rapidly (about 2.5 metres) with the landslide of Vuoksi. Later on the level slowly went down 8 metres to its present level. All the later paintings were made from boats during the different historical water-levels.

General description of the destination:

All in all there are around 60 pictures painted on the rock (elk, people, boats, etc.) and they are located 8-11.5 metres above Saimaa’s current water level. The pictures were either painted from a boat or on the ice of ancient Saimaa using red ochre mixed with blood or fat. The shape of the rock itself is rather special as it resembles the side profile of a human face when seen from the lake. It is also possible to dive in the area – amber pendants have been found in the lake near the rock. Arrowheads from the Pit-Comb Ware culture have also been found in the ground. Around 60 pictures painted on the rock (elk, people, boats, etc.)

History of the site:

The rock paintings were officially found by the Finnish archaeologist Pekka Sarvas in 1968, though locals knew of them before that.

Museographic resources description:

Riihisaari Museum in Savonlinna