Abstract

The date and location of the earliest chapel on the Hailuoto Island is examined by reviewing the archaeological and geological data gathered in late 1980s, on which the original hypothesis about the existence of the early 14^th century AD ecclesiastic building at the site of the ‘Old Church’ stood on. As old wood and marine reservoir effects were unrecognised back then, the calibrated radiocarbon dates gave systematically older date estimates. The coin evidence suggests a mid-15^th century AD terminus post quem, while the preserved wooden statuettes of saints date to the late 15^th century AD. As the data regarding local land-uplift rate is today more reliable than in 1980s and precise information on elevation gathered with airborne LiDAR can be analysed using the GIS, a new reconstruction regarding the environment around the ‘Old Church’ is also presented. Finally, reasons for further archaeological research on Hailuoto are sketched in brief.