Schoolchildren on archaeological digs

When I worked at Heureka between 1990 and 1997 I learned a lot about teaching, and I want to apply that information to archaeology and archaeological excavations. I visit schools, mainly primary schools, and tell the pupils about the work of an archaeologist almost every week. Since the 1990s, I have conducted archaeological excavations with secondary and especially upper secondary school students. The 'learning by doing' method works especially well with archaeology.

A good example of collaborating with local upper secondary schools and organisations is the work done researching the Raasepori Säterikatu Stone Age settlement and burial site.

By Written by Jan Fast. Translated by Johanna Spoof. Revised by John Calton.

Jan Fast

Born June 24, 1962, Helsinki

MA 2013 (archaeology), University of Helsinki

1997–2014 Public archaeology excavation projects, exhibitions, lecturing, teaching
1990–1997 Heureka Science Park
1986–1990 Archaeological fieldwork for Finland's National Board of Antiquities

Research areas: prehistoric Finland, conflict archaeology of World War II in Finland

Publications: Several articles on archaeology for upper secondary school history textbooks as well as various publications and papers. Autobiography “I arkeologens fotspår” ('In the footsteps of an archaeologist ') to be published in 2016.

Important research projects: The Stone Age habitat in Jokiniemi, Vantaa and “Deutsches Lager Hanko 1942–1944” ('Hanko German camp') as a part of a larger conflict archaeology research project “Hankoniemi varuskunta- ja sotatoimialueena 1940–1945” ('Hankoniemi as a garrison and military zone, 1940–1945').

Written by Jan Fast and Riitta-Ilona Hurmerinta (ed.)
Translated by John Calton