The Long-Period Dwelling Site of Multavieru at Lake Höytiäinen in North Karelia – Approaching Questions in the Municipalities of Polvijärvi, Kontiolahti, Joensuu and Liperi
Abstract
The starting point of the paper is the dwelling site of Multavieru, located near the Kiskonjoki River, on the NW side of Lake Höytiäinen in North Karelia. The remains of a dwelling-site area were found in a zone of ca 350 m long and not larger than 80 m wide near the Kiskonjoki River. Multavieru was discovered in 1969 and it has been investigated several times; in addition, it was studied twice by way of teaching excavation by the department of archaeology, the University of Helsinki. The habitation at the site covers the whole Neolithic and Early Metal Age times. A considerable part of the finds implied remains of Medieval Period and iron smelting dating to the 17th and 18th centuries AD. The article illuminates the prehistory and changes in habitation near Lake Höytiäinen from the late Mesolithic to the 20th century AD. The second question addresses the sites close to Multavieru, together with their finds, because this indicates the ongoing changes of culture during the lengthy period under study. Finally, the article addresses the history of the area around Lake Höytiäinen, because many features in the culture have changed considerably, although the area itself has not been considered as very significant, when trying to understand the prehistory of Finland.
