Historic findings

Most of the objects in the historic era collection have been found in urban archaeological digs in Turku. There have been digs at the site of the medieval town as well as in areas untouched by urban living before the 17th and 18th centuries.

These digs have produced a wide range of findings. Due to damp and anoxic conditions, organic materials such as leather and wood have been preserved. Most objects are fragments and pieces, only a few have survived whole.

Among the findings are pieces of earthen and glassware, leather shoes, knife sheaths, locks, keys, needles, spinning wheels, tiles and glass from ceramic stoves, pieces of textiles, lead seals from rolls of cloth, bags, belts, buckles, pearls, rings, game pieces, fish-hooks, fishnet floats, styluses and money. Many of these were everyday items of the town’s citizens.

The object collection also has some items that are very rare in Finland’s archaeological database, including medieval pilgrimage badges and wax tablet cases.

The sample collection includes dating and soil samples, fragments of structures as well as animal bones.