Petroglyphs of Gärde, Neolithic rock carvings in Offerdal, Sweden
The Petroglyphs of Gärde are rock carvings etched into the bedrock of northern Offerdal and show moose figures alongside geometric patterns. The engravings remain visible on the ground surface today, where visitors can walk close to them.
These rock carvings date back roughly 7,000 years and stand among the oldest known traces of human settlement in the Jämtland region. They document a time when hunter-gatherer communities lived in this part of northern Scandinavia.
The carvings show how early hunters depicted their prey and likely gave these images religious or magical meaning in their daily lives. You can see how central moose hunting was to these people's survival and beliefs.
The site is accessible via marked trails near Offerdal in Krokom Municipality in northern Sweden. Wear sturdy footwear and check the weather beforehand, as the region can experience harsh conditions.
The geometric patterns alongside the moose figures remain mysterious, and their precise meaning is still unclear today. Archaeologists believe they were part of a more complex symbolic system used by these early hunters.
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