Fifteen skulls to be laid to rest at Ruins Church site in Pälkäne

Fifteen skulls, transported from Pälkäne to Sweden 150 years ago and recently returned to Finland, will be laid to rest on the first Sunday of September at the Ruins Church site. The skulls will be buried in a communal grave, with the location chosen collaboratively by the parish, the Provincial Museum, and the Ruins Church Protection Association. The site takes into account previous archaeological excavations carried out in the churchyard. The burial and re-burial process at the Ruins Church will be supervised by the Provincial Museum.

The remains will be interred in handcrafted wooden coffins, designed to follow the shape of a cross. Carita Lindholm, an architect from Pälkäne and chairperson of the Ruins Church Protection Association, explains, “The design is inspired by the cross shape of the Ruins Church’s foundation, honoring the era of those buried and reintegrating them into the cultural history of the Ruins Church.” The coffins will utilize weathered half-joined boards salvaged from deconstructed windmill sails, donated for this purpose, which Lindholm believes adds valuable historical continuity to the coffins.

Residents of Pälkäne will have the chance to assist in covering the grave. Last week, a total of 82 skulls were returned to Finland, with 45 confirmed as being from Pälkäne. Bishop Matti Repo will conduct a religious service for the remains alongside Jari Kemppainen, the parish priest of Pälkäne, and Minister Sari Multala will deliver a speech at the event. The burial is described as a moment of prayer, as the deceased were originally blessed.

In addition to remains from the Ruins Church graveyard, the skulls originate from various locations, including the old part of the Rautalampi cemetery, Toson Island in Keitele municipality, Pangansalo Island in Pielavesi, and close to Nesterinsaari near Eno, now part of Joensuu. They will be buried near their original resting place. The burial ceremony will take place on Sunday, September 8, at 3 PM, followed by a “Homecoming” seminar on Saturday, September 7, at 1 PM in Nuijantalo, Pälkäne, discussing the long journey of the skulls from different scientific perspectives.