Kierikki
Encyclopedia
Kierikki is an area located in Yli-Ii
by the Ii River in Finland
. Kierikki is about ten kilometres to southeast and towards Pudasjärvi
from Yli-Ii
’s centre. Kierikki is also a surname in Finland
which has come to be used after the Ii River’s rapid named Kierikki.
Kierikki is one of the most important archaeological exploratory areas in Finland
. Excavations started in 1960 and they still continue yearly. Research has significantly chanced the view of Northern Finland
in Stone Age
. Archaeologists used to think that people in Stone Age
were nomad
s, people who change their residence along with the seasons. In fact, people lived in large villages the whole year. This was possible because of the massive fish and seal catches people got at the time. Fish and seal surpluses were also used in trade. Arrow heads made of flint were traded from Russia
and amber
ornaments from Baltic states
. Stone Age
chewing gum made of birch bark was found in Kierikki’s excavations in the summer 2007. The finding was also reported by BBC
.
Kierikki is also a subdivision of late typical comb ceramics. Kierikki ceramics were used in 3500–3100 BC and it preceded another Asbestos-Ceramic
s type called pöljä. Finnish Comb Ceramic culture is called neolithic
because it is comparable to neolithic
cultures elsewhere.
Besides ceramics, Finnish Comb Ceramic culture also includes polished weapons made of stone, which are a part of neolithic
cultures. One difference was the lack of agriculture
in Finland
in Stone Age
.
Kierikki includes Kierikki Stone Age Centre, which is a popular destination with its archaeological exhibitions and Stone Age
villages. There is also a hotel in the area.
Yli-Ii
Yli-Ii is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
by the Ii River in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Kierikki is about ten kilometres to southeast and towards Pudasjärvi
Pudasjärvi
Pudasjärvi is a town and a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The city has a population of and covers an area of of which is water. The population density is...
from Yli-Ii
Yli-Ii
Yli-Ii is a municipality of Finland.It is located in the province of Oulu and is part of the Northern Ostrobothnia region. The municipality has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
’s centre. Kierikki is also a surname in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
which has come to be used after the Ii River’s rapid named Kierikki.
Kierikki is one of the most important archaeological exploratory areas in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. Excavations started in 1960 and they still continue yearly. Research has significantly chanced the view of Northern Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
. Archaeologists used to think that people in Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
were nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
s, people who change their residence along with the seasons. In fact, people lived in large villages the whole year. This was possible because of the massive fish and seal catches people got at the time. Fish and seal surpluses were also used in trade. Arrow heads made of flint were traded from Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
and amber
Amber
Amber is fossilized tree resin , which has been appreciated for its color and natural beauty since Neolithic times. Amber is used as an ingredient in perfumes, as a healing agent in folk medicine, and as jewelry. There are five classes of amber, defined on the basis of their chemical constituents...
ornaments from Baltic states
Baltic states
The term Baltic states refers to the Baltic territories which gained independence from the Russian Empire in the wake of World War I: primarily the contiguous trio of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania ; Finland also fell within the scope of the term after initially gaining independence in the 1920s.The...
. Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
chewing gum made of birch bark was found in Kierikki’s excavations in the summer 2007. The finding was also reported by BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Kierikki is also a subdivision of late typical comb ceramics. Kierikki ceramics were used in 3500–3100 BC and it preceded another Asbestos-Ceramic
Asbestos-Ceramic
Asbestos-ceramic refers to types of pottery manufactured with asbestos and clay with adiabatic behaviour in Finland, Karelia and Northern-Scandinavia...
s type called pöljä. Finnish Comb Ceramic culture is called neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
because it is comparable to neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
cultures elsewhere.
Besides ceramics, Finnish Comb Ceramic culture also includes polished weapons made of stone, which are a part of neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
cultures. One difference was the lack of agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
in Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
in Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
.
Kierikki includes Kierikki Stone Age Centre, which is a popular destination with its archaeological exhibitions and Stone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a broad prehistoric period, lasting about 2.5 million years , during which humans and their predecessor species in the genus Homo, as well as the earlier partly contemporary genera Australopithecus and Paranthropus, widely used exclusively stone as their hard material in the...
villages. There is also a hotel in the area.