# Antrea Net

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Prehistoric fishing net found in Russia

Antrea Net Pieces of the Antrea Net Material Willow Created c. 8,540 BC Discovered 1913 Antrea, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire Discovered by Antti Virolainen

The **Antrea Net** is one of the oldest known [fishing nets](/source/Fishing_net) in the world, found in 1913 in the village of Korpilahti on the [Karelian isthmus](/source/Karelian_Isthmus) in [Antrea](/source/Antrea), then in [Finland](/source/Finland) but now belonging to Russia. It is dated to 8540 BCE.[1]

## Discovery

The net was found by farmer Antti Virolainen in [Antrea](/source/Antrea), [Finland](/source/Finland) (today [Kamennogorsk](/source/Kamennogorsk), [Russia](/source/Russia)) in autumn of 1913 at his home farm Ämmä-Mattila. While he was ditching a swamp [meadow](/source/Meadow), he found several stone and bone objects which got his attention.

## Excavation

The site was excavated by the Finnish archaeologist [Sakari Pälsi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sakari_P%C3%A4lsi&action=edit&redlink=1) in July 1914. In his excavation, Pälsi found 18 [bobbers](/source/Bobber_(fishing)) and 31 net weights and parts of the net. He also found several stone and bone objects, some [birchbark](/source/Birch_bark) and pieces of [tinder fungus](/source/Tinder_fungus). All the items were found in a relatively small area, and they had likely come to the scene at the same time in one piece. The items were sunk to the bottom clay of the [Ancylus Lake](/source/Ancylus_Lake) that existed during that period.[1]

## Description

Photo from the excavations of the Antrea Net by [Sakari Pälsi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sakari_P%C3%A4lsi&action=edit&redlink=1) in the summer of 1914. The photo shows the bobbers on the front and the netweights on the background.

The net is made out of [willow](/source/Willow) and it is estimated -- based on the number of parts found -- to have been roughly 27 to 30 metres (89 to 98 ft) long by 1.3–1.5 metres (4 ft 3 in – 4 ft 11 in) metres wide, with a 6 cm (2.4 in) mesh. The size of the mesh is suitable for fishing [salmon](/source/Salmon) and [common bream](/source/Common_bream). The net is laced with a knot called [Ryssänsolmu](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ryss%C3%A4nsolmu&action=edit&redlink=1), which was in use until much later dates in [Estonia](/source/Estonia) and areas of [Baltic Finns](/source/Baltic_Finns).[1]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:0_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:0_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:0_1-2) Saarnisto, Matti, ed. (2003). *Karjalan synty*. Jyväskylä: Gummerus Kirjapaino Oy. pp. 171–173. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [952-5200-37-X](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/952-5200-37-X).

## Additional sources

- Miettinen, Arto, Kaarina Sarmaja-Korjonen, Eloni Sonninen, Högne Junger, Terttu Lempiäinen, Kirsi Ylikoski, Jari-Pekka Mäkiaho, Christian Carpelan & Högne Jungner. (2008) [The palaeoenvironment of the Antrea Net Find](https://tuhat.halvi.helsinki.fi/portal/en/publications/the-palaeoenvironme%28878befb8-bd10-4bee-bc01-5038caeadfff%29.html) *Iskos* 16, 71-87, (Journal of the Finnish Antiquarian Society).[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256115911_The_palaeoenvironment_of_the_'Antrea_net_find'](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/256115911_The_palaeoenvironment_of_the_'Antrea_net_find')

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