Many parts of the Kola land have been little studied due to their inaccessibility and remoteness from civilization. Rock carvings, which are more than five thousand years old, stone labyrinths, the purpose of which has not yet been figured out, sacred seids, which in ancient times were worshiped by the Sami, bringing bloody sacrifices - the main part of the archaeological sites of the Murmansk region is located in the Lovozero and Tersk regions. Petroglyphs and rock paintings are extremely rare, and only a few finds are known for Northern Europe, for example, on the southwestern coast of the White Sea near the mouth of the Vyg River in Karelia. Therefore, the discovery in 1997 on the shores and islands of Lake Kanozero of the Tersk region of numerous rock carvings was a scientific sensation, which confirmed a number of hypotheses about the ancient ways of settling the northern territories.
The finds are dated to the Early Bronze Age (II millennium BC), although other stones have images that are older, dating back to the Late Neolithic Age (end of the III millennium BC). Archaeologists claim that in primitive times, one of the most important sanctuaries in Northern Europe could have been located in the vicinity of Lake Kanozero. The origin of the stone labyrinths remains no less mysterious. Spirals laid out in a special way of stone can be found in several places on the Kola Peninsula: near the Ponoy and Umba rivers, not far from Kandalaksha. Similar labyrinths are found in Karelia, Scandinavia and Sweden. According to some researchers, there could have been much more labyrinths in antiquity. Their mystery has not yet been solved, there are hypotheses about the use of structures in fishing sorcery, controlling the winds, in ritual dances. The most famous and accessible ones are the Umbsky labyrinth located on Cape Annin's cross and the Babylon labyrinth, which is located 4 kilometers from Kandalaksha, on the bank of the Malaya Pitkulya Bay.
The outskirts of the village of Lovozero are full of Sami "signs", almost every plateau is a legend. For example, Mount Kuyvchorr is known for its huge "pattern" on a sheer cliff that drops off to the lake east of the Elmorajok river valley. This is the giant Kuiva. On Deer Island in ancient times, mysterious rituals were held, holidays and competitions were also held there. The young men went out to battle naked, with deer antlers on their heads. The winner received the most beautiful girl as an award. But the most mysterious place in these silent mountains is Seydozero, the sacred lake of the Sami.
Seydozero owes its name to seids - sacred stones, into which, according to Sami beliefs, the dead turned, and the stone kept their spirit. The Sami anointed the seids with fish oil, the hunters sacrificed reindeer to them. The Sami believed: if you leave the seid without an offering, he will die, and, therefore, will cease to harm the enemies. On the lake, the Sami were afraid to knock with oars and talk, so as not to disturb the spirits living in the cave.
Promotional video:
Mikhail Ermakov