Bølareinen

Bølareinen (English: the Bøla reindeer) is the name of the primary motif in a large petroglyph site near Stod in Steinkjer Municipality in Trøndelag county, Norway.

The largest and most visible figures depict a reindeer, a bear, an elk, a seabird and a skier.

The south Sámi museum Saemien Sijte took over the operation of the Bøla cafe in 2017, and the petroglyphs are now interpreted in light of Sami history in the area.

Due to the rise of land masses following the last glacial period, Snåsa Lake is no longer part of the Trondheim Fjord.

[8][9] Agnes Schulz carried out further research in 1934, and her work was incorporated into an overview produced by Gutorm Gjessing in 1936.

The carved lines have an approximate width of 2 cm, with contouring that is perhaps intended to depict fur.

[7][13][14] The skier, also known as "Bølamannen" (English: The Bøla man) depicts a human standing on either a boat, short skis, or snowshoes.

Professor Kalle Sognnes stated in 2007 that this site, with its many new discoveries between 1969 and 2001, has become one of the largest collections of rock carvings in Trøndelag.

Other petroglyph sites in the area depict the more common figures of red deer and seabirds, while the skier is unique.

[7] Rock carvings were frequently placed by the last waterfall before the river opened into the fjord, as is attested from several Swedish petroglyph sites.

[10] Rock art that is situated beside a waterfall may have been used in a shamanistic practice, wherein the roar of the water was one of several means of allowing the shaman, perhaps a Sami noaidi, to enter into a trance.

Bølareinen is part of Trøndelag County Council's educational outreach project Bergkunstreisen (The Rock Art Trail).