Sosteli Farm

Welcome to Sosteli! This is one of the best preserved Iron Age farms in Europe. Sosteli was settled almost continuously from about the birth of Christ to 1000 AD. There are still traces of ancient house foundations, grave mounds, coal pits, fields and stone fences. Archaeological finds show that the farmers produced iron and hunted – in addition to ordinary farming. Some of these, and other artefacts that confirm contact with the outside world, are on exhibition at the Minne Cultural Centre. Pollination tests have shown that there was a forest in the area at the time before Christ. Through the Roman Period and the Migration Period this changed, however. There are traces of pollen from grass and other grazing plants, but it seems that grain farming gradually gained more ground. Another change takes place in the years 550–600 AD, with the forest returning. Although the ordinary farming continues, livestock keeping takes over as the main activity. The pollination tests also show that hemp was grown – for the production of ropes. This took place until around 1000 AD.