Ukonkivi

Ukonkivi, located on Ukonsaari island in Finnish Lapland's Lake Inari, is a significant archaeological site revered by the Inari Sami people. Known as a sieidi, or sacred natural formation, this site served as a place of worship and sacrifice, potentially until the 19th century. The rock, standing 30 meters high, was associated with sky deities in both Finnish and Sami mythologies. It features a notable sacrificial cave where a silver jewellery fragment was discovered by Sir Arthur Evans in 1873, marking an important archaeological find in Lapland. Another siedi was uncovered in 2007 by Finnish archaeologists, underscoring the site's continued religious and cultural significance. Today, Ukonkivi remains a focal point for understanding Sami spiritual practices and their connection to the natural landscape.