Discover Pulli: Stone Age history and regional culture

• The first settlers came to the archaeological settlement of Pulli 10,000 to 11,000 years ago.
• The site was probably used as a seasonal campsite around 9000–8550 BC.
• The exhibition about the Stone Age settlement opened in autumn 2022.
• There is a rest area and swimming spot at the site.
• A 1.8 km route for non-motorised traffic is being built. It is intended to connect Urge küla, Pulli küla and Sindi linn; bus and train stops are located along the route.

The history of the site can be understood through two different dates. The first settlers came to the archaeological settlement of Pulli 10,000 to 11,000 years ago. By contrast, the site’s use as a seasonal campsite is probably dated to around 9000–8550 BC. These dates therefore do not refer to the same point in time: one concerns the arrival of the first settlers, while the other concerns the probable use of the site as a campsite.

The history of the landscape is also part of the picture: over the centuries, the archaeological settlement site was buried beneath several metres of sediment. The exhibition about the Stone Age settlement opened in autumn 2022. Together, the site, its chronology and the exhibition give Pulli a clear cultural and historical focus. There is also a rest area and swimming spot at the site, which forms a separate stop to include in your itinerary.

Nearby Sindi complements Pulli’s archaeological history with a different perspective. The Sindi Museum is housed in a small building where Estonia’s first cooperative, the Sindi Kalev Factory Association, was founded on 17 November 1902. This date is part of the history of the building and the cooperative founded there.

The museum’s main exhibition covers the textile industry and the factory, the lives and times of the factory workers, and the history of the town of Sindi and Sindi School. Its subject matter thus ranges from industrial development to workers’ everyday lives and the history of the town. If, when planning your trip, you are more interested in recent local and working history than in the Stone Age, Sindi offers a distinctly different cultural focus.

The nearby Sindi Rapids were created in 2020 at the site of a former dam. After it was demolished, fish spawning grounds were created and the Pärnu River was opened up to fish migration. The site is therefore also associated with habitat restoration and restoring the river’s continuity.

There is a rest area and swimming spot at the Pulli site; the Sindi Rapids, by contrast, are linked to changes to the river and its spawning grounds. Canoe trips on the Pärnu river system also take place in the Tori Municipality area. They follow the Lemmjõgi, Raudna, Halliste, Navesti and Pärnu rivers and offer views of the banks of Soomaa and Tori põrgu. Also in the Tori Municipality area, Tori Horse Breeding Farm offers guided tours and rides. Alongside Pulli’s cultural focus, there are therefore options related to water and horses.

The attractions mentioned are spread across Pulli, nearby Sindi and the Tori Municipality area. Choose your base according to which of these places and themes are central to your trip, rather than assuming that the various attractions are all in the same area. Pulli is known for its archaeological settlement site, Sindi for its museum and industrial history, while canoe trips and tours or rides are located in the Tori Municipality area.

A modern 1.8 km route for non-motorised traffic is being built between Urge küla, Pulli küla and Sindi linn. Bus and train stops are located along the route. As the connection is under construction, its explicitly planned status is relevant to your planning. To compare other destinations, you can also explore Vainu, Sauga and Eametsa.

When did the first settlers arrive in Pulli?

The first settlers came to the archaeological settlement of Pulli 10,000 to 11,000 years ago.

What does the Sindi Museum’s main exhibition cover?

It covers the textile industry and the factory, the lives and times of the factory workers, and the history of Sindi and Sindi School.

Which places is the new route intended to connect?

The 1.8 km route for non-motorised traffic is being built and is intended to connect Urge küla, Pulli küla and Sindi linn. Bus and train stops are located along the route.

For the broader travel overview: Sauga.