Hanhikivi – the delimiter from Historical Age

Hanhikivi is a fixed relic, the delimeter from historical age. It has been qualified nationally valuable object and be protected by Antiquities Act (295/63).

Relics are memories about earlier life and the history of Finland. The Antiquities Act aspires to secure the preserving of national culture heritage to upcoming generations.

Relics are automatically protected. All actions which can endanger relics preserving, are forbidden. For example excavating, covering, moving, harming, removing and any other encroaching are forbidden without the licence of Antiquities Act. To relic belongs at least two meter wide protected area.

Hanhikivi – the delimiter of Treaty of Nöteborg

Treaty of Nöteborg (Pähkinäsaaren rauha), also known as Treaty of Oreshek, is the peace treaty that set the first east border concerning Finland. The treaty was the first settlement between Sweden and Novgorod Republik regulating their border. The border began at Rajajoki, went to northwest across the Karelian Isthmus and ended to coast of Bothnian Bay. Hanhikivi is found as the delimiter of Treaty of Nöteborg.

Hanhikivi is mentioned as a delimiter at least in two independent document.

Karelians of Ostrobothnia had a taxation permission to coast area which spanned from Hanhikivi at south to Kaakamanjoki river at north. South to Pyhäjoki and west to Kemijoki River at Kaakama began the area of the king of Sweden.

In 1490, inhabitants of Kemi, Ii and Liminka appealed to the king of Sweden that those karelians keep constantly the area up to Hanhikivi, according to treaty of Nöteborg, as their own and demand taxes.
The taxation was half of salmon catch from all salmon rivers between Pyhäjoki river to Kemijoki river. If inhabitants didn’t pay, the karelians devastate the area. The finns of the coast, for one, did the retaliatory treks to Viena Karelia. That is how began the period of warfares.

Hanhikivi is mentioned as a delimiter, also, by Birkarls (pirkkalaiset). In one witness, is said: “In the olden days the karelians have said that their proprietary to Ostrobothnia extends up to Hanhikivi, the stone which locates on the coast of salt-sea.”

At Karelian Isthmus, on Ingermanland, there is a small border village called Riihiö. There is a signpost that is said: “Ristikivi 1323” which means “Cross Stone 1323” in english. In russian there is said: “The first border line of the great Novgorod and Sweden 1323”.

According the measurement that academic Kustaa Vilkuna did 1959, Hanhikivi is 610 cm high (Uusi Kuvalehti 41/1959). On the top pf the stone there is a long scratch, the left side of it the number “17” and the right side number “70”. Under this faded writing there is sign “N14” and a little more right and upper there is a krona.

Resources:
Museovirasto 30.4.2008
Kaija Untamalas article ”Hanhikivi – Pähkinäsaaren rauhan historiallisesti merkittävä ja suojeltu rajakivi”, published in Pro Hanhikivi -newspaper 1/2008