Ukonkivi

Ukonkivi , ("Ukko's Stone"), is located in the Ukonsaari island on the Finnish lake Inari. The area of the lake is called Ukonselkä. Ukonkivi was used by the ancient Sami people as a holy sacrificial place. The name "Ukko" refers to the ancient thunder-God in the Finnish mythology of Kalevala.

The island is about 30 metres high, 50 metres broad and its length is about 100 metres. The distance from the village of Inari to Ukonkivi is about 11 kilometres. At summertimes touristic trips are made to the stone from Inari village from the harbour of Sami museum Siida.

One of the most important archaeological findings of Lapland was made on Ukonsaari island. The jewel finding that consisted of a part of a silver jewel was found 1873 by a British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans in a sacrificial cave on the island.

References

* [http://yle.fi/arkeologia/ArkKartta4.swf Some archeological sites of Finland]
* [http://www.edu.fi/projektit/tammi/Sivut/Arkisto/Kuvarkisto/siida/pages/ukonsaari_jpg.htm Picture of Ukonsaari]