Changing Petroglyphs – Changing Beliefs?

Analysis of the Rock Art of Alta reveals distinct diachronic morphological and stylistic changes in petroglyphs, depicting humans, animals, spirits, and boats, over 5000 years. These variations suggest shifts in beliefs, rituals, identities, and technological advancements, reflecting both continuity and discontinuity in stories and cultural practices within a small geographic area. The study highlights the influence of outside contacts, including agricultural societies from southern Scandinavia and foragers from eastern Fennoscandia, on how people in the Alta fjord region understood their environment. Changes in boat depictions also indicate evolving coastal mobility, resource exploitation, and social networks.

K., H. (2019). CHANGING PETROGLYPHS – CHANGING BELIEFS? Знаки И Образы В Искусстве Каменного Века. Международная Конференция. Тезисы Докладов [Электронный Ресурс]. https://doi.org/10.25681/iaras.2019.978-5-94375-308-4.17