Metsähallitus is Responsible for the Preservation of Ancient Sites
Ancient sites which have remained intact in the terrain are valuable messages from prehistoric times or monuments reminding us of historical events: places of worship, hunting traps, tar pits and ruins, boarder boulders and fortresses.
There are ca. 3,000 ancient sites and several ship wreck remains in areas managed by Metsähallitus. Next to sites, there are signs of change which began in prehistoric times: patches where forest has been cleared for slash-and-burn agriculture or pastures for cattle and travel and hunting trails. These ancient parts of the landscape are also being conserved.
Ancient sites and artefacts are protected by the Antiquities Act, which states that they are not to be destroyed or disturbed. When conserving and restoring forests and landscapes this must be taken into account. As part of each area’s management plan the exact location of ancient artefacts is determined and the management of the sites is planned in cooperation with the National Board of Antiquities.
More Information