History of Åland

The history of Åland can be traced back to roughly 4000 BCE, when humans first reached the archipelago in the Neolithic period.[1] Several Bronze Age villages have been found on Åland. During the Viking Age, six hillforts were built. Sweden occupied the Åland Islands from the 1200s until 1809, during which, Kastelholm Castle was the focal point of many battles. In 1809, the Russian empire took Åland and Finland. In 1854, British and French forces attacked Bomarsund. The Åland Islands were then demilitarised until 1906. In 1918, Swedish and German forces occupied the Åland Islands. After the Finnish Civil War, Åland joined Finland following the Åland Convention of 1921.

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Geology and prehistory

Paleolithic period

Around 18,000 BC, during the Weichselian glaciation, a thick cover of ice stretched over Scandinavia,[2] which eventually receded from the islands around 9000 BC.[3] Around 8000 BC the highest peaks of the then submerged archipelago rose from the Baltic Sea.[4] The sea levels would alternate in the Baltic Sea,[5] but a land bridge to Åland never formed, indicating the first humans came by boat or over the ice.[1]

Due to the forebulge effect after the icecaps melted, the area around Åland is still rising several millimeters per year, marginally expanding the archipelago's surface.[6]

Neolithic period
Ritual Stone Age clay bear paws from the Åland islands.

Artifacts of human remains, pottery and animal bones were found dating as far back as the Middle Neolithic (ca. 4000 BC). These are the oldest findings, denoting human presence on the isles by then. Their cultures were Scandinavian, firstly the Pitted Ware culture and later joined by the Comb Ceramic culture.[1][7]

Bronze Age

Many Bronze Age villages have been found on Åland. Ceramics and animal bones have been found of Kökar.[8] Signs of livestock have been found from the Bronze age on Åland.[9]

Viking age

Large burial grounds have been found on Åland from the Viking age.[10] Arabic mint coins from 400 C.E have been found on Åland.[1] On Åland, there are 6 hillforts from the Viking age.[11]

Chronology until 1809
  • 12th century: Åland Islands might have been occupied by Eric the Saint, other sources claim Åland was already an integral part of Sweden.
  • 1324: Finland (including the islands) constituted a duchy.
  • 1300–1600: Kastelholm Castle was a focal point for a number of battles and raids.
Kastelholm Castle in the 1600s

Continuing malaria outbreaks

As the result of abundant Anopheles claviger mosquitoes, malaria was endemic in Åland for at least 150 years, with severe outbreaks being recorded in the 18th century, and in 1853 and 1862.[13]

Chronology up to 1921
Soldiers in trenches an artillerie batteries shooting the Bomarsund fortress during the Åland War in 1854.
  • c. 1835: Fortress of Bomarsund begins construction.
  • 1853: Severe malaria outbreak.[13]
  • 1854 – Battle of Bomarsund: as part of the Crimean War the Anglo-French invasion of Åland takes place. The coalition force attacks and destroys the fortress of Bomarsund. The British prime minister Palmerston had protested against this fortification some twenty years prior, without effect.
  • 1856 – Treaty of Paris: The peace convention forbids the fortification of the Islands.[14]
  • March 1856: By the Åland Convention, concluded between the United Kingdom, France and Russia, it was decided the isles were demilitarized.
  • 1862: Another severe malaria outbreak occurs.[13]
  • 1877: A telegraph cable is in use from Mariehamn to Nystad.
  • 1892: The first telephone is installed in Mariehamn.[15]
  • 1906: A Russian garrison is established in the Islands. Some attention went to the earlier Treaty of Paris when Russia, under pretext of stopping the smuggling of arms into Finland, placed considerable naval and military forces on the islands.
  • 1907: Russia requests France and Great Britain to cancel the Convention's agreement.
  • 1907: Secret Treaty of Björkö (Russia and Germany), which gives Russia a free hand to install military forces on the Islands.
  • 1914: Outbreak of World War I: Russia fortifies the Islands.
  • 1916: The islands are remilitarised by Russia and used as a submarine base during World War I.
  • 1917 – Russian Revolution: Finland declares independence. The Islanders demand reunification with Sweden via a referendum (25–29 December).
  • 1918: The Soviet Government, Sweden and Germany recognise Finland's independence Sweden, and Germany. Bolshevik forces, however, land on the Islands as part of the Russian Revolution. The isles are later invaded by Sweden (February) and eventually occupied by Germany (March-October).
  • 1918: The islanders internationally plead to reunite with Sweden.
  • 1919: Sweden brings the question before the Paris Peace Conference on 18 March but the islands remain part of Finland.[14]
  • 1921: The Åland convention re-establishes the demilitarised status of the islands.

See also

References
  1. Early history. (2014, September 25). Visit Åland. https://www.visitaland.com/en/good-to-know/history/early-history/ Retrieved 25 August 2021
  2. NASA. (2014, June 4). Åland Islands. Earthobservatory.Nasa.Gov. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/52174/aland-islands Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  3. Mörner, N. A. (1995). The Baltic Ice Lake-Yoldia Sea transition. Quaternary International, 27, 95-98.
  4. Stone Age Åland. Retrieved 29 August 2006. (in Swedish)
  5. Andrén, T., Björck, S., Andrén, E., Conley, D., Zillén, L., & Anjar, J. (2011). The development of the Baltic Sea Basin during the last 130 ka. In The Baltic Sea Basin (pp. 75-97). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg.
  6. December 2006, Anne-Maj Lahdenperä Pöyry Environment Oy, Working Report 2006-111, Literature Review on Future Development of the Baltic Sea and Recommendations for Safety Modelling
  7. Götherström, A., Stenbäck, N., & Storå, J. (2002). The Jettböle middle Neolithic site on the Åland Islands–human remains, ancient DNA and pottery. European Journal of Archaeology, 5(1), 42-69.
  8. "early history". visitaland.
  9. "forntiden". visitaland.
  10. [https:/visitaland.com/upplev/kultur-historia/alands historia/ "ålands historia"]. visitaland. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  11. "Permenenta utställningar". visitaland.
  12. Prothero, G.W. (1920). The Åland Islands. Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section. p. 9.
  13. Prothero, G.W. (1920). The Åland Islands. Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section. p. 3.
  14. Prothero, G.W. (1920). The Åland Islands. Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section. pp. 9–10.
  15. Prothero, G.W. (1920). The Åland Islands. Great Britain. Foreign Office. Historical Section. p. 6.
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