Rock Carvings in Tanum
Tanum rock carvings Aspeberget flat rock by Wiki Commons
Thousands of petroglyphs carved into the rocks near Tanumshede make up one of the most extensive displays of ancient carvings surviving in modern days. So astounding was the high concentration of so many drawings that a large portion of the area became a World Heritage Site in 1994. 600 panels stretch across 25 kilometers of land that was once a coastline at the time of the drawings. The land has risen to an elevation of 25m, carrying with it the remnants of a civilization by the sea.
The carvings come from the Bronze Age in Scandinavia, dating between 1,800 to 500 BC. The carvings depict the way of life of those living at the time, and show their finess and sophistication. Scandinavian peoples were adept at ship building and fishing, shown by the drawings of their 12 passenger boats of the Hjortspring boat style. Agriculture was another knowledgeable field for residents, with carvings depicting farmer’s ploughs being drawn by oxen. Other petroglyphs portray hunting scenes, revealing bows, axes, and spears to be weapons of choice.
Perhaps the most notable slate is a rock that stands 22 metres tall and 6 metres wide and has more than 300 carvings depicting a variety of daily activities. When the petroglyphs throughout the area were discovered, some were fading due to time and acid rain. Many of the carvings have been painted red for visitors to see them better. The site attracts some 100,000 tourists each year.
The carvings come from the Bronze Age in Scandinavia, dating between 1,800 to 500 BC. The carvings depict the way of life of those living at the time, and show their finess and sophistication. Scandinavian peoples were adept at ship building and fishing, shown by the drawings of their 12 passenger boats of the Hjortspring boat style. Agriculture was another knowledgeable field for residents, with carvings depicting farmer’s ploughs being drawn by oxen. Other petroglyphs portray hunting scenes, revealing bows, axes, and spears to be weapons of choice.
Perhaps the most notable slate is a rock that stands 22 metres tall and 6 metres wide and has more than 300 carvings depicting a variety of daily activities. When the petroglyphs throughout the area were discovered, some were fading due to time and acid rain. Many of the carvings have been painted red for visitors to see them better. The site attracts some 100,000 tourists each year.
