Archaeological excavations in the Karelian Isthmus - the strip of land, now under Russian control, which separates the Gulf of Finland from Lake Ladoga - have shown the same kinds of traces of stone-age habitation that have been found on the shores of Finland's Saimaa waterway and by Lake Ääninen in Russian Karelia.
Shallow indentations have been found on ancient shoreline terraces, which are believed to be the foundations of stone-age dwellings.
Last summer more than 70 new locations containing ancient artefacts were found.
Many new innovations spread into Finland via the Karelian Isthmus during prehistoric times.
Finnish investigators did not get permission from Russian authorities to investigate areas on the western shore of Lake Ladoga until 1999. After that, there have been digs each year in the areas of Kaukola and Räisälä.
Teams of investigators have measured hunters’ pits and taken soil samples.
In addition to regular arrowheads, archaeologists have found amber and slate jewellery, serrated quartz arrowheads, stone chisels, and stones with holes in them. Also, they have found plenty of charred bones.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 12.10.2004
