Hällmålningarna på Flatruet

Hällmålningarna på Flatruet is a rock art site on a mountain plateau in Härjedalen with red ochre paintings on a vertical rock face near the tree line. The ancient artists created around twenty figures showing animals and people spread across the stone surface.

The paintings were discovered in 1896 and date back to around 2000 BCE, created by hunter-gatherer communities of the Late Stone Age. They stand as rare surviving evidence of these early Nordic cultures.

The figures show mainly moose, reindeer, bears, and people, reflecting what ancient Nordic hunter-gatherers relied on for survival and how they saw the animal world. These images tell us about the creatures that shaped daily life in this region long ago.

The site can be reached from Mittådalen, with parking available at Ruvallen farm from where a short hiking trail leads to the paintings. Visitors should wear weather-appropriate clothing and allow time for the uphill walk, especially during less favorable conditions.

A natural silica layer from the rock formed a glass-like protective coating over the paintings, preserving them for thousands of years. This natural seal is one of the reasons these artworks survived in such good condition.