Pälkäne holds historic funeral ceremony for returned skulls of former residents

On a Sunday in September, Pälkäne held a remarkable funeral ceremony. Flags were flown at half-mast in the town center, where hundreds gathered around the remains of a medieval ruin church. Just before 3 PM, horse-drawn carts arrived at the church, carrying three cross-shaped wooden coffins containing the skulls of 45 former residents of Pälkäne. These skulls were exhumed and taken to Sweden for research in the 1870s and were finally returned after years of negotiations, arriving back home in August.

During the hour-long ceremony, Bishop Matti Revon and Pälkäne Church Rector Jari Kemppainen led a prayer, followed by a speech from Minister of Science and Culture Sari Multala and musical performances. The atmosphere was profoundly communal. At the end of the event, the coffins were lowered into a communal grave dug next to the church.

The horse Korpituuli pulled the carts from Pälkäne Church to the ruin church, a route that had been rehearsed with the horse for two weeks. Seppo Lassila, the horse’s owner, expressed his connection to the event, stating, “I represent the old families of Pälkäne, and this is an honor.” After lowering the coffins, locals participated in filling the gravesite, marking a collective sense of closure for the community.

The return of the skulls has fostered a shared sense of purpose among Pälkäne residents, underscoring the importance of recognizing their history. While the identities of the individuals have yet to be established, the recent service offered a comforting reconciliation for many, including local resident Hanna Soininen, who expressed relief and emotion at the return of the remains, noting that they have finally found peace back home.