The University of Tartu began archaeological rescue excavations on July 20th in Härma village, Setomaa, south-eastern Estonia, ca. 3 km south-west of Obinitsa.

The local inhabitants have decided to build a new Orthodox village chapel on a medieval village cemetery where, according to the local lore, once stood a chapel, dedicated to St. Thomas. On the hill was also a sacred juniper where people brought votive gifts up to the middle of the 20th century.

During the rescue excavations the ground that would have been disturbed during the construction works of the new chapel will preliminarily be investigated. In the first excavation days some 16th 17th century pottery fragments and 2 Swedish coins minted in Riga in the 17th century have been found.