A few years ago, the
remains of Finland’s
oldest identified churches were still dated to the 1230s. Since the founding of
parishes was placed in the early 13th century, these remains were associated
with the period of ecclesiastical organization. In 2013, the well preserved
stone foundation of a church presumably built already in the 12th century was
excavated in Southwest Finland. Located in the
middle of an inhumation cemetery, this building was associated with the
ecclesiastical activities of the period of missionary activity in Finland
and it may have been the church of a village or locality used by a community
smaller than later parishes. Possibly dating from this period of the transition
from the Iron Age to the Middle Ages are also two previously known foundations
of belfries from two separate inhumation cemeteries. Because of very little
information on the remains of early churches, the new finds discussed in this
article provide considerable additions to our view of the early ecclesiastical
culture of Finland.