Finlands äldsta kyrka hittad

[Ördög]

Tvekade en stund om den här nyheten borde postas i medeltidsforumet också. Vad anser Skalmans moderatorer så där allmänt taget om korspostningar?
Hur som helst, i Ravattula S:t Karins håller man på att gräva ut något som visat sig vara ruinen av en kyrka från 1100-talet. Det var ju här i trakten som Vite Krists lära infördes genom S:t Eriks och S:t Henrik försorg kringsvid år 1155 - om man får tro Eriks-Skrönikan, "Boken om vårt land" med flera äldre verk ...

Unikt kyrkofynd i Åbotrakten
http://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2013/09/0 ... abotrakten

Rester av något som har varit den äldsta kyrkobyggnaden i Finland har hittats vid Aura å i S:t Karins. I utgrävningar som har gjorts av Åbo universitet hittades en väl bevarad stengrund.

Byggnaden härstammar från tidig medeltid, och utgående från fynd från platsen har man daterat den till 1100-talet.

Byggnaden har varit omkring 10 meter lång och 6 meter bred. Det har funnits ett separat bönerum och ett smalare kor. Man har också hittat reser av ett altare.

Fyndet är unikt för Finland. I 150 år har man letat efter liknande platser i Finland. Fyndet gjordes som ett resultat av ett långsiktigt forskningsarbete.

Kyrkobyggnaden härstammar från tiden före församlingarna började organisera sig i landet. Den nu hittade kyrkan har sannolikt fungerat som privat eller bykyrka för invånarna ända fram till 1200-talet.

Redan tidigare har man hittat en stor kyrkogård som daterar sig till tiden mellan åren 1050-1250, och en stengrund som omgärdar kyrkogården.

Fyndplatsen utgör en väl bevarad helhet vid Aura å, bara några kilometer från Åbo centrum.

Yles finskspråkiga artikel är något utförligare. Här får man veta att det uppgrävda materialet ska analyseras mer i detalj under hösten och vintern. Då bör det klarna när byggnaden uppfördes, hur länge den var i bruk och varför den övergavs.
Man siktar på att fortsätta med att utforska området under de närmaste åren. I och med att det i stort sett saknas skriftliga dokument om Finlands under 1100-talet, kunde utgrävningarna sprida ljus över hur kristendomen infördes i området, samt hur den kyrkliga ordningen etablerades.

Suomen vanhin kirkko löytyi
http://yle.fi/uutiset/suomen_vanhin_kir ... yi/6813431

[Schwemppa]

Fyndet och utgrävningsprojektet har fått en egen hemsida.

http://www.ravattula.fi/ala6.htm

RISTIMÄKI IN RAVATTULA

The Oldest Church Site in Finland

On Ristimäki hill in Ravattula, remains of an early medieval church were found in 2013. The remains have been dated to the late 12th century–early 13th century, in other words to the end of the Finnish Crusade period and the Early Middle Ages. The church is so far the oldest in Finland and also the only one dating from the period before the creation of Finnish parish system. Ristimäki is exceptionally well preserved: the site comprises a church, a churchyard that served as burial ground, and a fence surrounding the churchyard.

Ristimäki church was a wooden building that was constructed on a stone footing. The church consisted of two rooms: in the western end, there was a square nave and in the eastern end, a slightly smaller narrow choir in which the altar was located. The walls were presumably built by using a horizontal timbering technique and the floor was covered with planks. Today, only the stone footing and the foundation of the altar remain of the Ristimäki church. The corners of the church building and the location of the altar have been marked on the ground.

Ristimäki church was small in comparison with modern churches. Nevertheless, it was prominent in the landscape during its lifetime. The approximately ten-metre-long church was located on a small hill sloping towards the River Aurajoki.

The church remains are surrounded by a churchyard with dozens of graves. Thus far only a few graves have been archaeologically examined. Most graves are located right in the vicinity of the church as it was regarded as the most valuable place for burying. According to radiocarbon datings, the burial ground may have already been in use a century before the construction of the church begun. Remains of a stone setting of a fence that surrounded the churchyard have so far been found on the south-western side of the hill.

As the project is still ongoing, many details about Ristimäki, such as the exact time of founding the church, are still unclear. Due to the scarce resources allocated to the project, only a rather small area has been unearthed so far. However, it is assumed that there could still be several interesting structures, for instance remains of a bell tower, waiting to be discovered. Researchers are continuously striving to shed more light on the past of Ristimäki.

On the basis of natural scientific datings and finds, it seems that the use of the church and the churchyard ceased during the second quarter of the 13th century. Perhaps the church was destroyed by fire, or it was abandoned and left to decay. Around that time, the parochial organisation in Finland began and the religious life appears to have concentrated in the newly established parish centre.

Ristimäki is a unique archaeological site that opens new perspectives on early medieval history, the Christianisation process, and the ecclesiastical organisation in Finland. On Ristimäki, we truly are at the origins of the Christian culture.

The research on Ristimäki in Ravattula is conducted by The Department of Archaeology of the University of Turku. Excavations are carried out during few weeks every year. Archaeological excavations in Ristimäki are mainly funded through external means such as donations and grants. The Finnish Association for Supporting Archaeological Research has been founded to support the fundraising activities. The association organises guided tours to Ristimäki and pursues publishing activities. Anyone interested in the project is welcome to join the association.

Ravattula is located approximately four kilometres from the centre of Turku in the direction of Hämeenlinna, near the intersection of the national highway 10 (Hämeen valtatie) and the Turku bypass. Ristimäki is accessible on foot or by bicycle via a network of cycle routes. The site can be reached from Kurala village and Ravattula shopping centre on the southern side of the River Aurajoki and from Halinen on the northern side of the river via Vanha Ravattulantie road.

Ristimäki, a unique reminder of Finland’s early history, is protected by the Antiquities Act. Visiting the site is possible within the framework of the Act and the Finnish everyman’s right (jokamiehenoikeus). Unauthorised digging or causing any damage on the site is strictly forbidden.