Anthropomorphic Images at the Padjelanta Site, Northern Sweden: Rock Engravings in the Context of Sámi Myth and Ritual

Research at the Padjelanta site in northern Sweden reveals a set of stylized anthropomorphic rock engravings that predate Viking Age/Medieval sailing boats, offering new insights into Sámi mythology and ritual practices. These early images, resembling petroglyphs from Alta, goddess motifs on Sami drums, and the Earth Mother figure in Manrlajsmyths, suggest a potential link to the Sámi goddess Máttaráhkká. The study explores possible ritual contexts, including autumn reindeer hunting, human burials, and small-scale quarrying for asbestos and soapstone, providing a tentative hypothesis that connects these images to broader mythological narratives. The research combines archaeological analysis with mythological interpretation to deepen understanding of Sámi cultural traditions.

Mulk, I.-M., & Bayliss-Smith, T. (2021). Anthropomorphic Images at the Padjelanta Site, Northern Sweden: Rock Engravings in the Context of Sámi Myth and Ritual. Current Swedish Archaeology, 9(1), 133–162. https://doi.org/10.37718/csa.2001.10