Hiker discovers ancient rock painting in Ruokolahti, Finland

While hiking in the forest of Salosaari in Ruokolahti, Mika Pinomäki discovered an unusual red marking on a rock. Initially, he thought it was a natural formation but decided to report it to the Finnish Heritage Agency. Upon investigation, it was confirmed to be a rock painting, notable for depicting a bird that is rare in Finland, and the design is relatively large.

The painting itself is not entirely new, as lichen has grown over it. Determining its age is challenging, especially since a watermill existed on the site in the 19th century. Pinomäki, who refers to himself as an enthusiast of archaeology, suggests the painting could be thousands of years old or merely a few hundred years old.

In Finland, an average of one new rock painting is discovered each year. Ville Mantere, a researcher in history and archaeology at the University of Turku, notes that there are years when no new paintings are found, while other years see several. He remains confident that undiscovered rock paintings still exist.

Most rock paintings in Finland showcase prehistoric artistry and served as a form of communication before the advent of writing. Over a hundred prehistoric rock paintings have been documented, along with about twenty ambiguous cases, including the one in Ruokolahti due to its age uncertainty.

Ismo Luukkonen, an expert on Finnish rock paintings, inspected the Ruokolahti find and remarked that these paintings are typically located near water bodies, indicating they may have served communicative purposes for travelers. The positioning of the Ruokolahti painting on elevated rock could also suggest religious significance. Moreover, it is suggested that anyone exploring nature could discover similar markings if they stand out against the surrounding environment. Discoveries can be reported to the Heritage Agency, although they lack monetary value, they hold significant research importance.