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The Alta Rock Carvings are an impressive collection of stone-age art dating from 6000 to 2500 years ago. These carvings were well-preserved by the ground-cover which grew over them for many hundreds of centuries. All of the carvings were made by using a rock tool of quartzite and a hammer of either bone or rock. The carvings have been highlighted with red paint by scientists so that they are more easily identifiable. Below we have included many of the carvings we found to be most interesting.
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The photo at left was from the earliest phase (6200 to 5300 years ago) when this rockface was close to the sea shore (it is now 23 to 25 meters above sea level). The figures include reindeer, elk, and a couple of fish at the bottom. The lines on the reindeer indicate the animals were very lean and their ribs were showing. At this point in time, there was probably not much fodder as the ice was still retreating and the climate was much colder than now.
This is the oldest picture known anywhere in the world depicting the use of a fence in connection with hunting or to confine reindeer.
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The drawing below right, from the same period, shows 3 bears with a man above them with a spear, suggesting a hunting scene. It can also be interpretted as a symbol of the bear cult, a theme found among all the peoples in the circumpolar region.
Below left is a more stylized version of an elk.
Below right is a carving of an elk being forced into a trap (deadfall) by a hunter using a pole with an elk head on it. The objects below left are interpreted as necklaces made from animal bones and/or teeth.
The boat below right was carved in the second phase, between 5300 and 4200 years ago at a lower level (about 20 meters above sea level). The boats almost always have an elk head on the prow. This one depicts 3 people in the boat, one woman (center) and two men. The woman is also holding an object, either ceremonial or some type of fishing tool. The earlier drawings did not differentiate between men and women.
Above left is the tour group walking through the area with the rock carvings. It is expected that the area was used for ceremonial purposes as the few traces of houses suggest there was little permanent or semi-permanent settlement here.The large number of rock carvings at the head of the Altafjord indicate that parts of this area held such a role for around 4000 years.There is also a large museum and interpretive center at the site focussing on the history of this area. |
