Yli-Ii: Kierikki’s Stone Age World and Culture

Those considering Yli-Ii as a travel destination can focus their stay on culture and prehistory. Yli-Ii is home to the Kierikki Stone Age Centre and Stone Age Village on the north bank of the Iijoki, while the village church makes its own architectural statement. These themes offer different highlights for visitors: the exhibition puts the Stone Age into context, the village focuses on reconstructed dwellings and hands-on activities, and the church offers a glimpse into another era. When planning your trip, you can decide which interests you most: archaeology, hands-on activities or architecture.

Kierikki: Exhibition and Wooden Architecture

The archaeological exhibition at the Kierikki Stone Age Centre explores the Stone Age in Finland, with a particular focus on the Kierikki area. It presents the early prehistory of North Ostrobothnia, from the Ice Age to the end of the Stone Age. This timeline connects a regional perspective with Kierikki’s specific history.

The main building offers a distinct architectural perspective, too: completed in 2001, it is one of the largest modern wooden buildings in the Nordic countries. For a trip that combines architecture with archaeology, this detail adds another dimension to Kierikki: the exhibition focuses on prehistory, while the main building is a modern wooden structure.

Stone Age Village, Trails and Activities

The Stone Age Village is located on the north bank of the Iijoki. Its reconstructions of Stone Age houses are based in size and shape on dwellings discovered during excavations. The restored houses make guided tours possible, where visitors hear about life in the past and learn practical skills. Access to the houses depends on Kierikki’s opening hours or may be available by request.

The Trapper’s Path runs for 0.5 kilometres around the Stone Age Village. Traps along the trail illustrate the ingenuity of Stone Age people. A basic guided tour takes participants along a simple boardwalk for about one kilometre. The loop trail and the guided tour therefore differ in length and format. The village tour includes visits to the dwellings and a break by the campfire; confirm tour availability when booking.

At the Stone Age Village, visitors can try typical Stone Age activities, including archery and making objects from stone. In archery, they can try to hit a deer-shaped target. Visitors can also paddle a canoe carved from a tree trunk at the village beach. Check the operator’s current availability for these activities before your trip.

Yli-Ii Church

Yli-Ii Church offers an architectural counterpoint to Kierikki’s Stone Age theme. Completed in 1932, it was designed by Yrjö Sadeniemi and is stylistically associated with the classicism of the 1920s. Located in the village centre, it is a prominent landmark visible across the landscape. While Kierikki takes visitors back to prehistory, the church is a distinctive point of interest for anyone interested in 20th-century architectural history.

Planning Your Journey and Accommodation

Getting there is an important planning consideration when visiting Kierikki: the centre is easiest to reach by car, and public transport connections are currently limited (as of 14 September 2026). Since transport options can change, check your route before visiting. If Kierikki is a focus of your trip, also factor in travel arrangements and activity availability when planning.

Discover more destinations: Yli-Valli, Komsi, Oulu, Laakkola, Närpes, Lankojärvi, Kalajoki, Savio.

For the broader travel overview: North Ostrobothnia.