The early in the North project at the University of Helsinki Department of Archaeology

The paper gives a short account of the history of archaeological research in northern Finland, which consists of the Provinces of Oulu and Lappi (north of 64°N lat). A huge material, virtually unknown for Finnish as well as for foreign archaeologists, has been collected. In 1995 a three year archaeological project called Early in the North was launched in order to organize the materia!. The project includes the following programs: (1) a database program, (2) a dating program, (3) an archaeo-osteological program, (4) a palaeoecological program, and (5) a publishing program. Formally the Early in the North project will continue tili the end of 1997. International cooperation in archaeological research activities covering the whole of the so-called Barents Cooperation Territory in the North of Europe is recommended