Towards New Projects

Today I arrived once again to the city of Pori, which was once my home base for conducting archaeological surveys all around Satakunta. While the province is full of fascinating sites from early Mesolithic period to more contemporary industrial history, there was one particular site that caught my attention and has kept me busy over the long winter – that is Pori Airpot.

Warning sign for the airport area in Finnish and German. Taken in 1944.

The construction of Pori Airport was completed in autumn 1939 and due to the imminent start of the Winter War, its operations were soon taken over by the Finnish Air Force. While Finns already sought to expand the airport and its defenses, the more significant fortification program got started in July 1941, when the airport operations were handed over to the German allies. The airport soon became an important depot, from where the Germans dispatched aircraft to the north and carried out major overhauls.

After Finland negotiated a separate peace agreement with the Soviet Union in September 1944, Germans in Pori were told to leave. While there were no open hostilities, Germans didn’t leave quietly – instead they placed detonations triggered by a timer all around the base. On September 2nd 1944, explosions destroyed more than fifth of the German built constructions and shattered many windows in the city. However, there were no casualties as Germans sent a warning about explosions in advance.

What remains in the woods.
As the war ended, majority of the ruins were demolished completely and the German period in Pori has barely been included in the history books. While many locals have personal memories of various ruins all around the forests, they have been left without further research – which is something I hope to change.

After doing some initial surveys in the area last summer and visiting several archives over the winter, I’m happy to say that the area has a lot of research potential for conflict archaeology – a vision that the Satakunta Museum shares. Today, I had the second meeting with the museum staff and made a more detailed plan for the upcoming research.

What we’re about to start is a project, that will last multiple years. It will include surveys, excavations, interviews, cooperation with local schools and testing of various new research methods. One of my prime goals is to make the research as open and inclusive as possible, so there will be a plenty of opportunities for everyone to hear about the newest finds and even take part in research themselves. There are already many passionate hobbyists of history and archaeology, who have promised their help and support, for which I'm very grateful!

Lastly, I’m happy to announce that our work is supported by Suomen Muinaistutkimuksen tuki ry, which yesterday awarded me a grant for survey work. I’m honored to have such trust in my research and I’m happy that the potential of this site and conflict archaeology is thus recognized.

I will share more insight about the research over the spring. Don’t hesitate to contact me, if you have any ideas, suggestions or questions!
Location: Pori, Suomi

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