Reindeer carvings
On the rock.
Francesco Bini — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hans A. Rosbach — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Heidi Johansen — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Heidi Johansen — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Hans A. Rosbach — CC BY-SA 3.0
The Rock Art of Alta is a group of prehistoric carvings in and around Alta Municipality in Finnmark, northern Norway, and its largest site, at Jiepmaluokta, about 4 km in a straight line west of central Alta, has been turned into an open-air museum. Since the first carvings were found in 1973, more than 6,000 have been discovered at several sites. Together with the Storsteinen, Kåfjord, Amtmannsnes and Transfarelv sites, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on 3 December 1985, and it is Norway's only prehistoric World Heritage Site. The earliest carvings date to around 4200 BC and the latest to around 500 BC, showing a hunter-gatherer culture that herded reindeer, built boats and fished, and some carry symbols of ancient rituals. A long boardwalk runs over smooth grey rock near the shore of the fjord, among grasses and pink wildflowers, passing rock panels carved with reindeer, bears, elk, fish, boats and hunters. Some lines have been painted red to make them clearer, while others stand out when wet with rain or caught by low light. Entry is paid and includes the museum and the trail, which is usually open only in summer, when the snow has melted. Do not touch the carvings or walk on the carved rock; keep to the boardwalk.
On the rock.
By the fjord.
Their story.
Jiepmaluokta, Alta, Finnmark, Norway
Usually in summer, after the snow melts.
No, keep to the boardwalk.