Projekti1 | Arkeologiset tutkimukset

The excavations in Naantali in the summer of 2005

The Naantali churchyard and the adjacent park hide one of the most important historical monuments in Finland – a medieval Brigittine monastery. The monastery was in it’s time divided in two separate sections; one for the nuns, the other for the monks. The nun’s section was located on the northern side of the church. The heaps of it’s ruins are partly preserved under the trees in the park, next to the fenced excavation area.

The 2005 excavations take place in the location of the future urn cemetery. The excavations will most probably continue for the entire summer. The work is funded by the Naantali congregation, supervised by the National Board of Antiquities and the actual excavations are performed by Muuritutkimus Ky, an archaeological research company. The researchers of the company have excavated in different locations in the old town area for the past nine years. The present research is one of the most extensive urban archaeological excavations in recent years.

The excavations have hitherto revealed two time-stratigrafic levels. In the area adjacent to the churchyard and the church finds related to the everyday life in the monastery have been found, i.e. fine imported german ceramic ware and leftover bones of domestic animals. The area may have been the backyard of the monastery kitchen. A ring, a small decorative cross and a pearl of glass were also found in the area. The excavation is traversed by a SE – NW-striking stone paving, which may be a part of the monastery’s outer fence or possibly related with the later rectory.

The second level was revealed close to the gate of the present cemetery, next to which a 17^th century layer of fill earth with adjoining remnants of building foundation rocks was excavated. The fill earth layer was rich in finds; approximately 1000 large and small objects were found, the largest an almost intact cast iron frying pan and among the smallest five or six silver- and copper coins dated to the 16^th and 17^th centuries. Both the foundation rocks and the thick fill earth layer are related to the 17^th century rectory in the area.

The most interesting finds are exhibited at the Naantali Museum, the “Hump” building in the old town, and you may also ask any relevant questions of the archeologists and students working on the excavation. Updated information regarding the excavations can also be found at www.muuritutkimus.com.

medieval cross

medieval ring