Among new archeological relics having local significance stone seidas were discovered lately. They were found on the Bolshoi Nemetsky Kuzov and Russky Kuzov. Separate seidas-idols that served as home hearth protectors to Lapps can also be seen on the other islands of the White Sea.

It is known that in the remote past many north nationalities worshipped stones. Based on this Lapps came to believe that after death the elders of their clan transmuted into stones. A patron-stone like that is called "seita" (seida). In the lands of Lapps (Laplanders) there are a number of well-known stones-seidas that bear the name of the forefather who allegedly transmuted into a stone. In the 19th century an academician A.Kastren called seidas the Penates of Laplanders, patrons of their home hearth. Remarkable is in this regard the fact that near the separate seidas that can be found on the Bolshoi Zayatsky and Kem islands there can always be seen the so called Lapp Pits - the dwelling places of Lapp families.

No other monument can hold a candle to the seidas and idols discovered within the past three years on the Bolshoi Nemetsky Kuzov and Russky Kuzov either in regard to the originality of their construction, or variety, or their quantity on the vast territory that was occupied by Lapps even in the beginning of the new system of chronology.

On the top of the Bolshoi Nemetsky Kuzov mountain a real pantheon of Lapp gods was situated. In spite of perhaps better part of the relics having been destroyed, about 150 seidas and other stone idols are still preserved at the top of the mountain.

According to a belief of Lapps, ancient dwellers of Belomorie, seidas and other idols help people in their fishing and hunting. That is why seidas were set on high banks and islands of reservoirs so that they could be seen from afar. Seidas and idols were sacrificed to. Thus there is small wonder that the high rocky mountain of Bolshoi Nemetsky Kuzov that dominates all the Kem islands was made into a sanctuary. And the places around Kuzovs (in the Lapp language they are called "fir-tree islands") were the center of sea trades and fishery since the ancient times.

There is an interesting pomor (coast-dweller) legend about "Germans turned into stone" connected with seidas-idols. The story says that in some very ancient times "German people" (Swedes were called so by coast-dwellers) intended to attack "the holy Solovki". In the sea they were overtaken by a tempest. The "Germans" found shelter in the northern part of the Kuzovs. They saw white-stone walls of the Solovetsk Monastery from the top of the mountain. But frequent tempests sent on them from above did not allow the "Germans" to sail further. Once, when the "German people" were sitting round the fire eating, God punished the enemies by turning them into stones. Thus "Germans turned into stone" has been sitting on the top of the mountain till the present day. Since then this island is called Bolshoi Nemetsky Kuzov (Big German Basket).

On the one hand, the legend is based on the historical event taken place in the beginning of the 17th century, when a Swedish troop endeavoured to attack the Solovetsk Monastery from the Kuzovs' side. And on the other hand it is based on the Lapp belief that a person can turn into stone.

The seidas on the Bolshoi Nemetsky Kuzov are huge angular boulders put on smaller stones - "legs". On the upper surface of a stone-seida several small stones are placed as a rule, and under them (in some cases) - tiny multicoloured stones.

Other idols have different forms and stone combinations and they are of smaller size. Prominent among them are idols in the form of rough sculptural bust of a human (according to the coast-dweller belief - "Germans turned into stone"). This is a boulder that in its form and size resembles the upper part of a human body. On it there is a stone in the form of a head of a human, a bird, or a dog. At the front of these idols there are usually two cylindrical stones (not all of them are preserved till the present day). They resemble stretched out hands.

The third, and the largest, group of idols is usually compiled of boulders of medium size and various forms. On the upper part of these boulders one or several cobble-sized stones are placed.

The monuments of the second Lapp sanctuary are preserved on the top of the Bald Mountain on the Russky Kuzov Island. The number of idols that are situated here runs to 150, among them there are several unusual ones that resemble in form "Stone Woman". This is an oblong granite slab placed vertically and being from both sides supported by two round slabs. Besides, there are remains of two burials, the walls of which are laid of granite slabs.

Thus, on the Kuzov Islands one can see the relics of two sanctuaries that probably belonged to two Lapp clans - fratries.

On the other Kem islands only separate seidas can be observed with "Lapp Pits" near them.

The fact that in the remote past the Kuzovs were the place of sea trades is confirmed by the preservation of constructions laid of boulders - shelters where hunters-archers traced their prey - seal or sea hare. These constructions are situated on the banks of the gulfs between the islands and are known by the Lapps as "paahus".

Ancient hunters and fishermen went to the sanctuary after the successful business, performed ritual riots there and made sacrifice to their gods-idols hoping on successful business in the future.

Majestic in its severe beauty, the "two-hump" Bolshoi Nemetsky Island is rising in the boundless space of the White Sea. Steep rocky slopes of mountains covered with moss and lichen, vast vertical walls of split rock in the primordial chaos with quaint figures of giant gods leave an indelible impression on the visitor of this northern land.