Heilu rocks were first described and characterised by the Russian geologist Gregor Helmersen in 1871 and 1879. His name is also connected to rocks elsewhere in Estonia.
With over 80 rocks on the 0.5 hectare plot, carried to their location by glacial ice, geologist Gregor Helmersen described the Helmersen rock field as the most magnificent group of boulders originating from Finland that he had ever seen in the Baltic countries.