Rock Carvings in Tanum, Prehistoric rock art site in Tanumshede, Sweden.
The Rock Carvings in Tanum comprise thousands of petroglyphs on about 600 panels across a 25 km stretch of Bohuslän. The panels are cut into grey granite, and many figures have been filled with red pigment. Common motifs are boats with curled prows and rows of vertical strokes, along with human figures, animals, wagons and carts.
These carvings were created between 1800 and 500 BC during the Bronze Age, documenting a thousand years of change in society. The rock panels show how life evolved and transformed across many generations.
The carvings show boats, warriors, hunting moments, and ceremonies that reveal how Bronze Age people lived and what mattered to them. Through these images, we can see the social roles and activities that shaped their communities.
The Vitlycke Museum functions as the main visitor center with exhibits that help explain the carvings and their context. Guided walks from the museum are a good way to see the rock panels and learn about what they represent.
One noteworthy panel is called Vitlyckehäll, a massive rock face that holds several hundred individual carvings in a single space. This concentrated display shows the complexity and density of how Bronze Age people recorded their world.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,458 contributors worldwide.
