The Rock Carvings in Tanum, Sweden
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Gavia-SGCD
N 58° 42.071 E 011° 20.200
32V E 635390 N 6509138
The rock carvings in Tanum, in the north of the province of Bohuslän, Sweden, were created during 1800 BC – 500 BC. The first rock carving was discovered in the early 1700s.
Waymark Code: WM26V8
Location: Västra Götaland, Sweden
Date Posted: 09/14/2007
Views: 89
The coordinates above is for the main flat rock area, Vitlycke. The Rock Carvings included in The World Heritage is the carvings in Vitlycke, Aspeberget/Tegneby, Fossum, Litsleby, Gerum and Kalleby.
The rock carvings in Tanum, in the north of the province of Bohuslän, Sweden, were created during 1800 BC – 500 BC. The first rock carving was discovered in the early 1700s, and that was that flat rock with the Spear God in Litsleby (N 58 41.343 E 011 19.526). The Spear God is 2 m 35 cm (7 ft 9”) tall carving of a man and his spear. That’s the largest rock carving figure of them all and is perhaps the biggest in the world!
There are about 450 different flat rock areas with rock carvings within the World Heritage area, with several thousands of figures!
The Rock Carvings are a unique artistic achievement not only for their rich and varied motifs (depictions of humans and animals, weapons, boats and a lot of other subjects) but also for their cultural and chronological unity. They reveal the life and beliefs of people in Europe during the Bronze Age and are remarkable for their large numbers and outstanding quality. This area has been on the World Heritage List since 1994.
If you ever will visit Sweden, this is a MUST! Believe me!
Prepare yourself for the visit by studying the homepage of the World Heritage Museum, in Tanum.