Ancient Hillforts of Finland: Problems of Analysis, Chronology and Interpretation with Special Reference to the Hillfort of Kuhmoinen

In this study ancient fortifications or hillforts of prehistoric type are specifically defined as hills with steep slopes and walls of stone and/or earth protecting their accessible parts, or as outcrops of bedrock, and as hills and islands without walls, referred to with place-names indicating a fort or castle (Fi. 'linna'), from which prehistoric finds have been recovered. Contrary to generally held views, the ancient hillforts of Finland have been studied to a considerable degree. Within the present borders of Finland are a total of 70 hillforts. Twenty-five are known from the area of Karelia ceded to the Soviet Union in World War II. Of the 95 hillforts, 36 have been excavated to varying extent (38% of all known hillforts). In addition to this, many hillforts have been mapped. There is hardly any other group of antiquities in Finland that has been excavated to such an extent, at least in relative terms. Despite the relative extent of excavations and field work, not much is actually known about the hillforts. This has maintained the idea that they have not been studied to any major extent. Finnish archaeological literature usually mentions hillforts as belonging to the Late Iron Age and indicating social organisation and the joint efforts of communities for defensive purposes. The subject of this study is the Linnavuori hillfort of Kuhmoinen. The purpose will be to explain the origin of this hillfort and to elucidate its position among the other hillforts of Finland. Excavations carried out at the hillfort in 1983-88 revealed an exceptionally large number of artefacts and objects. Despite the moderate size of the excavations (total area 181 m2), the field work carried out at the Kuhmoinen hillfort is exceptionally extensive for Finnish conditions.