Astuvansalmi Rock Paintings in Ristiina

The Astuvansalmi rock paintings in southern Savo province, on the shore of Yövesi (Night lake), are the largest rock painting found in Scandinavia (65 paintings). The oldest paintings date back to 3000-2500 BC and are nowadays 7,7 to 11,8 metres above the water-level of lake Saimaa.

The motives for the Astuvansalmi rock paintings lie in the nature. They consist of 18–20 elk pictures, about as many human figures, tens of hands and animal tracks, 8–9 boats, geometrical figures and pictures that are thought to show a fish and a dog.

The paintings were officially found in 1968 by a Finnish archeologist.