"The first World Culture Heritage in Sweden" Tanumshede by lotharlerch

Tanumshede Travel Guide: 16 reviews and 60 photos

Rock carvings, picture from Vitlycke museums websi

Interesting historical site in a great nature

Tanumshede is only a few km from the picturesque Bohuslän coast. 4000 years ago was here the coastline because the land isstill rising slowly out from the sea with a few millimeters per year which is due to the ice which was melting away after the last ice age. What makes this place remarkable are the numerous rock carvings in the area. They are not so easy to be found but look out for roadsigns "Hällristningar" (rock carvings) or "Fornminne" (historical site). At the local museum you find a map where the interesting places are marked.FOR MORE PICTURES SEE THE TRAVELOGUE!

Open air art from Bronze Age

the winter still has not completely left

These carvings are on the granite which was polished by the glaciers of the last Ice Age and carries numerous small pictures of boats, animals and humans. The meaning or purpose of these nice works of art is still unknown, they originate from 1500 B.C until 500 B.C.

Rock carvings of the same type are also found in the nowadays Russian part of Karelia. See for that for example my friend Anjutka's Karelia page.

pre-historic art under the stress of civilization

These works of art persisted over 3000 years but in our age they are in serious danger. The polluted air (this area still has a relatively clean air, it is far away from big cities, industries etc)., the acid rain and even the tourists who sometimes walked over the pictures destroyed the pictures noticeably during a couple of decades. This made it necessary to cover a part of the pictures and to search for a conservation method. At some of these sites descriptions are placed to give an impression of what is underneath the protecting cover.

Pros and Cons

In a nutshell:by far the oldest pictures in Sweden

Last visit to Tanumshede: Apr 2003
Intro Updated Sep 18, 2005
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Reviews (2)

Pictures on the rocks Things to Do (1)

The Bronze Age rock carvings make this area a most interesting archeological site. The pictures are rather well... more travel advice

A charming B&B Hotels (1)

It is a typical family run countryside B&B Nice rooms and a wonderful breakfast. more travel advice

Travelogues (1)

Written Sep 18, 2005

5 photos

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Comments (6)

globetrott Sep 18, 2005 at 9:47 AM Report Abuse

Looks like an interesting place ! auch wenn ein paar der Krieger 1 Bein zuviel haben...
evaanna Jul 3, 2005 at 12:34 AM Report Abuse

I agree the carvings are just great. We couldn't see them all because a thunderstorm was coming, so must go there again.
iandsmith Oct 28, 2004 at 1:45 AM Report Abuse

Amazing, similar to the ones I saw in Italy.
Loeffle Aug 11, 2004 at 1:41 PM Report Abuse

Hmm, why dont you get rid of LÄNs? Its very confusing for tourists, and even Swedish maps sometimes mix län and landskap up ... Esp in Middle and Northern Sweden it can be really annoying ;(
lotharlerch Aug 11, 2004 at 5:47 AM Report Abuse

Answer to jessica-b and Loeffle: this means that logically Vaestra Goetalands laen is correct for a database but tourists would always look for Bohuslaen. Analogous in Austria. Salzkammergut is part of Oberoesterreich,Salzburg and Steiermark
Anjutka Feb 4, 2004 at 7:57 AM Report Abuse

These pictures look like karealian ones, very interesting!