Rock Carvings in Tanum, Tanum, Sweden

One of the largest rocks of Nordic Bronze Age petroglyphs in Scandinavia is located in Tanumshede locality, Tanum Municipality. In total there are thousands of images called the Tanum petroglyphs, on about 600 panels within the World Heritage Area. These are concentrated in distinct areas along a 25 km stretch, which was the coastline of a fjord during the Bronze Age, and covers an area of about 51 hectares. Tanumshede rock carvings have been declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Scandinavian Bronze Age and Iron Age people were sophisticated craftsmen and very competent travelers by water. (Dates for ages vary with the region; in Scandinavia, the Bronze Age is roughly 1800 to 500 BCE) Many of the glyphs depict boats of which some seem to be of the Hjortspring boat type carrying around a dozen passengers. Wagons or carts are also depicted.

Other glyphs depict humans with a bow, spear or axe, and others depict hunting scenes. In all cases the pictures show people performing rituals. There is a human at a plough drawn by two oxen, holding what might be a branch or an ox-goading crop made of a number of strips of hide.

The rock carvings are endangered by erosion due to pollution. To the dismay of some archaeologists, some have been painted red to make them more visible for tourists.

References:

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User Reviews

L M (2 years ago)
It's short visit but it's nice. Better if you go by your own car.

carol grayson (2 years ago)
Amazing. Don't miss it. Allow a couple of hours to explore the area. Museum was closed when we were there in January. So bring a picnic.

Thomas G (2 years ago)
Absolutely love it. Such an underrated place. It is in the middle of nowhere (and you'll doubt you are at the right location), but stop the car, and walk up to the rock formations, and look at this amazing art. Completely open, and drawing are not protected at all, so please be careful to where you walk.

Mike Mannaart (4 years ago)
A number of very interesting sites, but be aware those are spread throughout the region. You might have to look well to find all sites.

Charlita Dalebjörk (4 years ago)
Amazing pictures With a nice touch of history

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Rock Carvings in Tanum

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