Archeologists unearth early medieval village in Espoo

[Roya Sedghi]

Archeologists unearth early medieval village in Espoo


   
An archeological dig in the Espoo district of Mankby has uncovered traces of early medieval settlement. The excavation work brought to the surface the remains of housing structures dating back to the 14th century, which are a rare discovery in Finland.
      The finding of table knives and glassware, suggesting a relatively refined culture, came as a surprise to the researchers on the dig. Such things were not anticipated from a peasant village site.
      Thus far the site has been examined primarily as a source of material from a later era, from the late Middle Ages.
     
The original village of Mankby (located in the western part of Espoo, and part of the district of Kauklahti; it is known in Finnish as Mankki) was abandoned in 1556 when the then King of Sweden Gustav Vasa (Gustav I, 1496-1560) took over the land for a new royal manor.
      Thereafter the place was forgotten until it was rediscovered in 2004.


http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Archeologists+unearth+early+medieval+village+in+Espoo/1135247145462

[Roya Sedghi]

 Work on the site has been going on for a couple of years. This photo dates from 2007.

   
Photo:
LIISA TAKALA

[Roya Sedghi]

The site of the medieval village is just west of Kauklahti, in the western part of Espoo. The modern Finnish name for Mankby is Mankki, and there is a station bearing this name on the railway line leading west from Helainki to Kirkkonummi and on to Turku.