context: The first people arrived in Finland around 8850 before the beginning of the era. When the first settlers arrived, northern Finland was still covered with ice all year round; All in all, 8850-8000 BC can be considered an early stage of settlement. The settlement came to Finland from the Kundan-Butovon-Veretjen cultures and through the Norwegian coast. Initially, the new areas were not permanently frozen, but after a warm season the hunters returned to the areas they had left. Due to unpredictable winters, exploring the new area was safest in the summer. As the conditions of the new area and its animals became known, small families followed the catching groups. [6]
question: How long has Finland been inhabited?
answers.text: 8850-8000 BC