Giants’ Churches in Finland
By Anthony Bangert
AST 105
Professor Stephen Schimmrich
Giants’ Churches in Finland
Introduction: Somewhere in the Ostrobothnia region, located in Western Finland, are Neolithic stone structures known as “Giants’ Churches.” These structures can be dated as far back as 2500 B.C. to a time known as the Neolithic period, or the “technological development among prehistoric humans” (Britannica, 2001). It was during this time that farms were starting to be built and rudimentary forms of data collection started to form. Many ancient civilizations started making calendars related to solar or lunar …show more content…
and represents the earliest monumental construction in Finland. According to Eskola, “the earliest studies made at the Kastelli site are from the 1860’s with one cairn being excavated in 1862, but no finds were made” (Eskola et al, 2003). This means that, for thousands of years, the Giants’ Churches remained relatively untouched. No one knows for sure what the real function of these structures are, however UNESCO theorizes that it may have been “related to hunting seals on spring ice away from dwelling places, and that the stone cairns could represent the remains of holes used for storing meat” (UNESCO, 1990). I theorize that the structures would be used to plot times and locations of the sun as an early calendar. The people who built it would be able to estimate when the best time to hunt seals would be as it would coincide with the sun’s position. Over the years, and centuries even, civilization has moved in, but UNESCO says that “although it is now situated close to habitation, this enormous ancient monument has been preserved and is nearly in its original and natural state” (UNESCO, 1990). This makes it so perfect for studying, because there is so much evidence to investigate within the …show more content…
There is a decent view of the sky from its position, and would have been the perfect place for plotting out specific important astronomical events. According to Ridderstad & Okkonen, the “two mid-quarter days surrounding each solstice have the same solar position, and the most important festivals coinciding with these four parts of year have traditionally been Vappu, or St. Valborg’s day in May, and Kekri, or ancient festival of the dead in November.” (Ridderstad & Okkonen, 2009). Ridderstad & Okkonen also said that “these eight main solar dates of the year correspond to ten different rising and setting points of the sun on the sky and that about half of the Giants Churches have their long axes oriented to solar event” (Ridderstad & Okkonen, 2009). This can’t be a coincidence. To line up towards the sun on such specifically important solar events points to an obvious correlation. In addition, “of the 58 orientations towards gates, sacristies and the ends of walls in open structures, 29 are oriented to solar events, and of the 29 solar orientations, six are to the sunrise or sunset at the winter solstice, four at the summer solstice three at the equinoxes and 16 at Vappu or Kekri” (Ridderstad & Okkonen, 2009). Half of the alignments
By Anthony Bangert
AST 105
Professor Stephen Schimmrich
Giants’ Churches in Finland
Introduction: Somewhere in the Ostrobothnia region, located in Western Finland, are Neolithic stone structures known as “Giants’ Churches.” These structures can be dated as far back as 2500 B.C. to a time known as the Neolithic period, or the “technological development among prehistoric humans” (Britannica, 2001). It was during this time that farms were starting to be built and rudimentary forms of data collection started to form. Many ancient civilizations started making calendars related to solar or lunar …show more content…
and represents the earliest monumental construction in Finland. According to Eskola, “the earliest studies made at the Kastelli site are from the 1860’s with one cairn being excavated in 1862, but no finds were made” (Eskola et al, 2003). This means that, for thousands of years, the Giants’ Churches remained relatively untouched. No one knows for sure what the real function of these structures are, however UNESCO theorizes that it may have been “related to hunting seals on spring ice away from dwelling places, and that the stone cairns could represent the remains of holes used for storing meat” (UNESCO, 1990). I theorize that the structures would be used to plot times and locations of the sun as an early calendar. The people who built it would be able to estimate when the best time to hunt seals would be as it would coincide with the sun’s position. Over the years, and centuries even, civilization has moved in, but UNESCO says that “although it is now situated close to habitation, this enormous ancient monument has been preserved and is nearly in its original and natural state” (UNESCO, 1990). This makes it so perfect for studying, because there is so much evidence to investigate within the …show more content…
There is a decent view of the sky from its position, and would have been the perfect place for plotting out specific important astronomical events. According to Ridderstad & Okkonen, the “two mid-quarter days surrounding each solstice have the same solar position, and the most important festivals coinciding with these four parts of year have traditionally been Vappu, or St. Valborg’s day in May, and Kekri, or ancient festival of the dead in November.” (Ridderstad & Okkonen, 2009). Ridderstad & Okkonen also said that “these eight main solar dates of the year correspond to ten different rising and setting points of the sun on the sky and that about half of the Giants Churches have their long axes oriented to solar event” (Ridderstad & Okkonen, 2009). This can’t be a coincidence. To line up towards the sun on such specifically important solar events points to an obvious correlation. In addition, “of the 58 orientations towards gates, sacristies and the ends of walls in open structures, 29 are oriented to solar events, and of the 29 solar orientations, six are to the sunrise or sunset at the winter solstice, four at the summer solstice three at the equinoxes and 16 at Vappu or Kekri” (Ridderstad & Okkonen, 2009). Half of the alignments