Treasure hunters flock to Ruissalo’s People’s Park post-Ruisrock festival, unearthing lost items and hidden jewels

A week after this summer’s Ruisrock festival, Ruissalo’s People’s Park has been reopened for the use of locals and visitors. Festival tents and other structures were dismantled by Thursday. Treasure hunters have been alert since the area reopened, with many items dropped in the beach sand and surroundings during the festival celebrations.

A man named Peetu, who wished to be identified only by his first name, has been busy scouring the grass and sand with his metal detector, making new discoveries all the time. He said, “The most valuable item I found this year is a silver bracelet, but I also find a lot of coins, earrings, bracelets, and other jewelry.”

During the festival weekend, a large number of items, including driving licenses, phones, bank cards, wallets, clothing, and bags, were collected at the lost and found tent. Even the found jewelry can have sentimental value, even if its monetary value is minimal.

Most of the jewelry detected by Peetu’s metal detector is not valuable, but he still collects it. If the value of an item is over 100 euros, it must be delivered to the police, but less valuable items can be kept by the finder. Items over 100 years old, however, must be reported to the National Board of Antiquities. While Peetu hasn’t found such items in the People’s Park, he has made such discoveries elsewhere in Turku.

Peetu once found a penny coin over 300 years old and another time a Viking belt buckle. His metal detector beeps again, signifying another find. Peetu is delighted, exclaiming, “Another two euros!”