Järrestads hällristningar, Bronze Age petroglyph site in Simrishamn Municipality, Sweden
Järrestads hällristningar is a petroglyph site containing more than 1200 carved images on a large quartzite rock surface. The carvings include bowl-shaped depressions, ship representations, footprints, and numerous other symbols etched into the stone.
The rock carvings were created between 1500 and 500 BC, made by pecking the designs into the stone with simple tools. This long span of time indicates that the site held significance for successive generations of Bronze Age communities.
The rock carvings display a diverse array of subjects, from a distinctive human figure known as the Dancer to horsemen, animals, and weapons that suggest daily life and beliefs of ancient people. Visitors can observe how these motifs reveal what mattered to communities who made them thousands of years ago.
The site lies north of Järrestad village and is reached via a short marked path from a designated parking area. Good walking shoes are recommended, especially since the rock surface can become slippery when wet.
Three burial mounds from the late Bronze Age stand near the rock carvings, visible as distinct earthen heaps. The largest mound displays the characteristic form of these ancient burial monuments and adds another layer to understanding the settlement.
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