World Heritage Identification Number: 557
World Heritage since: 1994
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Archaeological Sites
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇸🇪 Sweden
Continent: Europe
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
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Unraveling the Mysteries of the Rock Carvings in Tanum: A Journey into the Past
The Rock Carvings in Tanum, located in the northern region of Bohuslän, Sweden, stand as a testament to the rich artistic achievements of the Bronze Age. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, these petroglyphs offer a captivating glimpse into the lives, beliefs, and culture of ancient European societies.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The rock carvings in Tanum, in the north of Bohuslän, are a unique artistic achievement not only for their rich and varied motifs (depictions of humans and animals, weapons, boats and 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.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (i): The rock carvings of the Tanum region constitute an outstanding example of Bronze Age art of the highest quality.
Criterion (iii): The range of motifs on the Tanum rock carvings provides exceptional evidence of many aspects of life in the European Bronze Age.
Criterion (iv): The continuity of settlement and the ongoing practice of agriculture, as illustrated by the Tanum region’s rock carvings, archaeological vestiges, and modern landscape features, combine to demonstrate a remarkable permanence during eight thousand years of human history.
Encyclopedia Record: Rock Carvings in Tanum
The Rock Carvings in Tanum are a collection of petroglyphs near Tanumshede, Bohuslän, Sweden, which were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994 because of their high concentration.Additional Site Details
Area: 4,137.609 hectares
Number of Components: 1
(iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
Coordinates: 58.70111 , 11.34111