About 130 rock paintings are known in Finland, almost all in the Lakeland on the shores of the Saimaa, Päijänne and Kymijoki water systems. They were painted from a boat or from the ice at the water level of the time; land uplift gives the age. The oldest date to around 5000 BCE.

This list picks the sites where the figures are still clearly visible and which can be reached without diving gear – some on foot, some by boat or across the ice in winter. All are protected by the Antiquities Act: do not touch, do not wet, do not light a fire beneath.

  1. Astuvansalmi rock paintings

    Mikkeli

    The largest rock painting in the Nordic countries, on Lake Yövesi in Mikkeli: dozens of elk, people, boats and hands on a vertical cliff whose profile looks like a face from the water. Amber pendants left as Stone Age offerings have been found at the foot of the rock.

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  2. Värikallion kalliomaalaus

    Suomussalmi

    An 80-metre bridge and a viewing platform lead to Värikallio in Hossa National Park. It has the third-highest number of figures of any Finnish painting, and it can be reached all year: by a 3.5- or 4.5-kilometre trail in summer, on skis in winter.

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  3. Saraakallio

    Laukaa

    Saraakallio in Laukaa is Finland's second-largest painting site, and its figures were made in several phases – the oldest an estimated 6,000 years ago. The cliff rises from the shore of Lake Saraavesi, and the best view is from a boat or, in winter, from the ice.

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  4. Juusjärven kalliomaalaus

    Kirkkonummi

    At Juusjärvi in Kirkkonummi locals took the figures for children's graffiti or power-line workers' marks until archaeologist Veikko Lehtosalo identified them in 1963. It is the second rock painting ever found in Finland, and the pike is clearly visible to the naked eye.

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  5. Valkeisaaren kalliomaalaus

    Taipalsaari

    At Valkeisaari in Taipalsaari an excavation unusual for Finland was carried out in front of the painting: it showed that offerings were made to the spirit of the rock for thousands of years. The lowest figure was painted as early as 3900–3300 BCE.

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  6. Julma-Ölkyn kalliomaalaus

    Kuusamo

    Finland's northernmost rock painting is on the wall of the 3.5-kilometre gorge lake Julma-Ölkky in Kuusamo, 1.5 metres above the water. It was found by a skiing party from Tampere in 1987, and it is still best seen from the ice in winter.

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  7. Hahlavuoren kalliomaalaus

    Hirvensalmi

    At Hahlavuori in Hirvensalmi three human figures raise their arms in a praying pose, one is painted upside down and the "diver" has an arrowhead-shaped head. There are three elk, one in outline and two filled in.

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  8. Ukonvuoren kalliomaalaus

    Enonkoski

    In Kolovesi National Park the Ukonvuori painting is viewed by climbing from a boat onto a jetty built on scaffolding. There is a single figure: a 50-centimetre human shape dated to the same period as the Vierunvuori painting in Heinävesi.

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  9. Pictogram

    Kouvola

    The Verla rock painting is at the head of the Verlankoski rapids right beside the UNESCO World Heritage mill village of Verla. The Stone Age painting shows a line of elk facing left and a few human figures – two heritage sites of the highest rank in one visit.

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  10. Louhtovuoren kalliomaalaus

    Mikkeli

    At Louhtovuori on Lake Kuolimo in Suomenniemi, Mikkeli, the largest elk appears to be galloping. The main panel has five or six deer on a smooth projecting surface, one human figure lower down, and the cliff rises straight from the water.

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  11. Pakanavuoren kalliomaalaus

    Kouvola

    The Pakanavuori images in Kouvola are on a vertical cliff 12 metres above the river, and they were certainly painted standing on land – not from a boat. Before the power plant the site was at the head of a rapid; you climb a steep slope from the marina road.

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All on the map

The whole theme. This list is a selection. The theme page has every place by region, a map and background on the phenomenon.

Rock paintings · 119 places →