Rock carvings in Central Norway

The first type dates to the Stone Age (in Norway from between 8000-1800 BCE), and usually depicts mammals such as elk, red deer and reindeer, but also brown bears, whales and porpoises.

In addition to the carved sites dating from the Stone Age, there is a series of caves on the coast of Central Norway containing painted human stick figures.

As has been shown by archaeologist Hein Bjerck, these pictures are usually located in the liminal area of the cave where the natural light gives way to complete darkness.

The most common motifs are the cup mark (cupule), boats, horses, people (often brandishing weapons), foot soles, wagons, and many kinds of abstract geometrical symbols (such as spirals, concentric circles etc.)

The hunter's rock carvings are often found in places with striking and highly visible natural features, such as below steep cliffs, by waterfalls etc.

This was part of what led to the original hunting-magic-interpretation: supposedly the carvings were made in places where animals could easily be hunted.