Elk's Head of Huittinen (, also known as Moose's Head) is a Mesolithic moose head figurine of soapstone found in 1903 from Huittinen in the province of Satakunta, Finland. The sculpture is dated to between 8,000 and 9,000 years ago. It is placed in the permanent exhibition of National Museum of Finland in Helsinki.National Museum Permanent Exhibition Finnish National Board of Antiquities. Retrieved 30 November 2013. Replicas are displayed in the Museum of HuittinenMuseum of Huittinen (in Finnish). Retrieved 30 November 2013. and in the sculpture collection of University of Helsinki.Sculpture Collection of the Department of Art History University of Helsinki. Retrieved 30 November 2013. Elk's Head is most likely the best-known archaeological artifact in Finland.
Discovery The Elk's Head is the oldest stone sculpture found in Finland. It was discovered in 1903 by a farm worker in a potato field in the village of Palojoki near Huittinen.History and Influential People Municipality of Huittinen. Retrieved 30 November 2013. A year later, the figurine was sold on a market in Turku. It was placed in the collection of a local historical museum and eventually came into the possession of the Finnish National Museum.
Description The 10 centimeter long figurine is made of soapstone which is not found in Western Finland. The sculpture, or at least its material is probably imported from the eastern parts of the country. Elk's Head has a hole for mounting a rod so it was most likely used as a sceptre in a ritual context.Norwegian Rock Art - Alta Fjord Don's Maps. Retrieved 30 November 2013.
See also List of Stone Age art
References
External links Image of the Elk's Head