The Rock Art of Alta, Archaeological site with rock carvings in Alta, Norway
The Rock Art of Alta is an archaeological site featuring approximately 3000 engravings carved into rock surfaces at multiple locations along the Alta Fjord. The carvings depict people, animals such as moose and reindeer, boats, and hunting activities from the Stone Age.
The carvings were created between 4200 BC and 200 AD by hunters and fishers living along the fjords of northern Norway. The site was rediscovered in 1950 when a farmer working in a potato field noticed the first engravings.
The rock carvings tell the story of how Stone Age people hunted, fished, and gathered in northern coastal lands, showing their daily concerns and values through engraved figures. These images remain visible today, offering a direct connection to how ancient communities organized their lives and understood their world.
The Rock Art Centre provides maps and audio guides to explore the scattered carvings at your own pace, with the best visiting conditions from May through October when snow has melted. The paths to different carving sites vary in difficulty, so sturdy footwear is recommended.
The carvings are scattered across different heights, with some 26 meters higher than others, because Stone Age hunters engraved them into rock faces at various elevations. Researchers use these vertical positions combined with land uplift after the Ice Age to determine which carvings are older.
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