The National Museum of Finland
Open Museum
Hirvenpaa
Click image to see articaft details

Moose head from Säkkijärvi

There are several dozens of animal head weapons made of stone and depicting bears or moose that have been found in Finland, dating back to around 8900–1700 BCE in the Stone Age. A shaft-hole axe depicting a moose, found in the village of Santajoki in Säkkijärvi, has become one of Finland’s best-known animal head weapons because of its artistic quality.

The Säkkijärvi moose head is made of Lake Ääninen’s greenschist, which is the raw material of countless Stone Age steel weapons found in Finland and Karelia. The object is quite skilfully made and thought to represent a young moose, vigilantly observing its surroundings. The eyes of the moose are probably made by drilling, and the ears of the animal are positioned in such a way that it looks as if it is attentively listening to its surroundings. The object is broken at the hole, so the blade of the axe is missing. Even when intact, the axe is unlikely to have ever been used as a tool but could have been either the emblem, totem or chief’s insignia of a moose clan.

Based on excavations carried out at the discovery site of the moose head in the early 20th century, it has been possible to date the object to the Stone Age, to the end of the Corded Ware period and to the Kiukainen culture, i.e. to around 2800–1700 BCE. The discovery site has also been found to be the site of the first Stone Age settlement in Säkkijärvi.

The video is about a shaft-hole axe depicting a moose found in the village of Santajoki in Säkkijärvi.

Watch video
Hirvenpaa 1
The artefact has found its way into the archaeological collections of the Finnish Heritage Agency through several twists and turns. The moose head was first found back in the 1890s, but it was not added to the collection until 1907. It was found when a plough uncovered some stones when clearing a field. The moose head was later sold to a local village trader, who put it up for sale. Fortunately, however, no suitable buyer was found. Before becoming part of the collection, the moose head also served as a children’s toy. The moose has suffered some damage to its muzzle and ears from rough handling.
Hirvenpaa 2
There are only a few equivalents for the Säkkijärvi moose head. For a long time, the only similar broken moose head weapons were those found in Uppland’s Alunda in Sweden and Kortesjärvi in Southern Ostrobothnia until, in 2023, an almost identical moose head weapon was found in Kuusamo. Based on the stone material, however, the artefacts originate from different geographical areas, so they cannot be regarded as displays of skill of the same stone blacksmith. KM4909:1

Digital collection

Videos