HELSINKI – A mysterious cave in Finland called Pirunkirkko has been used by shamans as a sacred space allowing them to connect to the spirit world. Now, scientists have started to look at the cave’s properties to better understand how it supports mystical experiences.
Pirunkirkko translates roughly as the “Devil’s Church.” The cave stands as an impressive rapakivi granite rock formation in the Paistjärvi Area of Heinola in the Koli mountain range. Rapakivi granite is a type of granite characterized by distinctive large, rounded crystals of feldspar surrounded by a finer-grained matrix of quartz and other minerals. The Finnish term “rapakivi” means “crumbled” or “decayed,” and it refers to the weathered appearance of the feldspar crystal which is valued for its decorative presence and its use in architecture.
Entrance to the Pirunkirkko [via Open Archeology
While these granite deposits are common in Finland, the cave is far from ordinary. Historical records indicate that the Devil’s Church served as a meeting spot for mystics and shamans where they used the energies of the cave during drumming sessions to heal the community and restore balance. Researchers noted that these mystics “were spiritual specialists in Finnish and Karelian agricultural communities over the past centuries. Their main task was to make contact with the spirits in the environment, heal the sick, and solve various problems caused by imbalances or disturbances between people, nature, and the spirit world.” Contemporary shamanic practitioners continue to use the caves still.
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Archival documents from the Finnish Literature Society (SKS) note that the Koli mountain range has been revered as a domain inhabited by spiritual beings. They describe the location as one of “mountain elves,” “invisible fairies,” goblins, and “great lords.” The sources note “The inhabitants of the mountain only play and yell there, and walk through the woods, and dance and play and drive with the bells along the mountain ravines. There’s a kind of crack where they play and walk. It is said that an iron road passes via the crack through the mountain of Koli, all the way from Taipale (along this road they have been heard to drive many times).”
The summits of the Koli mountain range are named Ukko-Koli and Akka-Koli. Ukko is the Finnish deity associated with the sky, weather, and thunder. In Finnish folklore, Ukko is considered the god of the sky and the ruler of the heavens. The name “Ukko” is derived from the Finnish word “ukkonen,” which means thunder. As the god of thunder, Ukko is often depicted as a powerful figure capable of causing storms and controlling the elements.
Akka is Ukko’s consort and the goddess associated with fertility, harvest, and female aspects of nature. Akka is sometimes referred to as “Maaemo,” which means “Earth Mother” or “Mother of the Earth,” emphasizing her connection to the earth and its abundance.
Pirunkirkko cave structure: Image Credit : University of Eastern Finland
Because ritualists at the cave emphasized sounds that included drumming, chanting, and even fighting against mystical sources, researchers became interested in the acoustical properties of the cave and how they support the mystical phenomena. Historical sources noted that in cases where the shamans defeated the spirits, miraculous events were subsequently observed. “This kind of healing ritual often included loud yelling, stomping, shooting, and banging,” explained archaeologist Riitta Rainio of the University of Helsinki in a statement. Ranio is one of the study’s authors with Elina Hytönen-Ng from the University of Eastern Finland,
The researchers found that the cave’s length, composition, and formation amplify and prolong sound at a specific frequency. Rainlo explained that the cave produces a standing wave confined between parallel walls, producing a tone at 231 Hz. This tone is then magnified and sustained by the natural frequency of the cave, imparting a mystical quality to the rituals conducted within.
The researchers noted that “One of the most intriguing aspects of this study is that the local folklore or the interviewed practitioner does not mention the resonant tone at all. Instead, they speak about the “spirit of the cave,” “special energy,” and “new horizons” opened up by drumming.”
The researchers noted that folklore and knowledge offered by the shamanic practices have opened up fresh avenues for understanding mystical practices in various locations. They noted how space and cultural frameworks shape our sensory perceptions, giving rise to varied experiences and interpretations.
“Where a researcher of acoustics hears as resonance, people of the past may have sensed the presence of a spirit, and a shamanic practitioner may feel the presence of an exceptional energy, each according to their background,” observed Rainio. The Pirunkirkko cave research was published last month in the journal Open Archeology.
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