Northern Europe, 09 Finland: Mesolithic Period (8900-5300 BC)

Archaeological evidence suggests that earliest post-Ice Age habitation was by nomadic hunter-gatherers following the retreating ice northwards, hunting elk and other game while fishing in the numerous lakes and coastal waters.

During the Early Mesolithic (8900-8200 BC) settlements were created in the western and southern parts of the Finnish Peninsular by a mixture of the Kunda (eastern Baltic), Butovo (Russia) and Veretje (Russia) cultures moving into Finland from the south and east respectively. These settlements have been named the Suomusjärvi culture (8500-5100 BC) after from the former municipality. During the Middle and Late Neolithic (8200-5100 BC) it spread further into Finland.

The earliest evidence of human activity in northern Finland is at the Sujala site (8300-8200 BC) in Utsjoki Municipality in Lapland. Its first inhabitants are believed to have evolved from the Komsa culture (9500-8500 BC).

Indicative of Early metal imports are a copper ring (c.3000 BC) from Suovaara, Polvijärvi Municipality, North Karelia Region, and a copper adze (c.2000 BC) from Kukkosaari Island, Suomussalmi Municipality, Kainuu Region.