THE PRE-HISTORY OF LOHJA

The End of Ice Age

About twenty thousand years ago the almost three kilometres thick continental ice glacier covering Fennoscandia began to melt when the climate became warmer and drier. About 8000 years BC the retreating of the ice decreased and partly stopped in southern Finland. Small movements of the ice in the edge areas and the sand and the gravel in the river estuaries made a ridge called Salpausselkä which followed the direction of the edge of the ice. Lohjan harju, Lohja ridge, is a part of the furthermost Salpausselkä (about 500 km long) and was created in 8600 - 8700 BC. Lohja ridge rises at its highest 85 meters higher than the surrounding area.

A view from Lohja ridge in winter. Pine forests cover the ridge. Some areas like this Neitsytlinna hill are natural conservation areas. >>

The First Inhabitants

Some investigations say that Finland would have got its first inhabitants as early as 9000 - 10000 years ago soon after the edge of the ice glacier had withdrawn. The first inhabitants arrived in western Uusimaa (the region where Lohja is located) about 6500 years BC. The coastal areas of the present Uusimaa were still under water because the sea level was about 35 meters higher than now. The settlement was mobile and rather sparse because of hunting.

Relics in Lohja

Only a few dozens archaeological findings can be dated with certainty. The oldest articles can’t be proved but they are probably from 4000 - 7000 BC. The articles found in Lohja are primitive axes, different kinds of chisels and a leaf-shaped sharp point of slate. Some so called Bothnian articles have been found too.

Photograph © Museovirasto
Some axes, swords and spears from the Bronze-Age (1500-500 BC in Finland)

An ancient grave in Siuntio near Lohja. When these stone stacks were made in the Bronze Age this hill was an island in the Gulf of Finland. The Baltic Sea was a lot higher back then.

Karstu Hillfort

Karstu hillfort was one of the guard and defence bases by the water route which was following lakes and rivers from the inland areas to the coast. Hillforts used to be defence and escape places for the inhabitants of the area. They were situated on high rocks and hills surrounded by water and swamp to be easy to protect. In Lohja enemies were competing tribes and later the Vikings who come from Sweden over the Baltic Sea. No articles have been found in Karstu but the position of the hillfort would be typical.

A view from the supposed Karstu hillfort towards lake Lohja and the gulf of Finland which is 40 km to the south. Frightful enemies as Vikings could sail by their ships to lake Lohja and even further inland from the sea along the river Mustio. Water level in the lake has been higher before. A thousand years ago when the fort was used the waves of this Karstu bay splashed against the foot of the hill.