Astuvansalmi Rock Paintings
Finland · Europe
Ochre elk and a bow-armed goddess on a lake cliff shaped like a giant face
Age
~4,500–5,000 yrs
Period
Comb Ceramic culture
Setting
Open-air
Art form
Paintings
Discovered
1968
Status
Open (Boat or Trail from Ristiina)
On a cliff rising from Lake Saimaa — a rock whose profile resembles a huge human face — Stone Age painters left about seventy red-ochre figures: elk, boats, handprints and a rare female archer some identify with the forest goddess Tellervo. Amber figurines found on the old waterline below suggest offerings were made here for centuries. It is the largest rock-painting site of the Nordic countries.
Gallery
Notable Features
- ◦ The female archer ('Tellervo')
- ◦ Elk herds in red ochre
- ◦ Amber offerings from the lakebed
Depicted Subjects
ElkHuman FiguresBoatsHand Prints
Plan a Visit
AccessThis cave can be visited.
Sources & Further Reading
Hours & prices change — always confirm on the official site before travelling.
Photographs via Wikimedia Commons — image credits. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.