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Country: |
Sweden |
Locality: |
Norrfors |
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Region: |
Västerbotten |
Area: |
Umeå |
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Environment & Surface |
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Altitude:
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52 m
Open-air
Shelter
Cave
Portable
Megalithic
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Geography: |
Situated on a small island, 17 x 12 m in size, at Norrfors in the Umeå river. |
Proximity: |
In the middle of river, possible place for a settlement at the southern bed of the river. |
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Geology: |
Gneissic. |
Surface: |
6 panels, 4 major and 2 minor. Sloping surface, glacial stration. |
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Art |
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Description: |
Engravings
Paintings
Painted engravings
High or low-relief
Sculpture
Norrfors, Umeå parish. The locality is situated at a small island in the Umeå river, the island is only 17 x 12 m. The total number of figures are 60, and there are 6 panels. The dominating figure is the elk with 28 depictions, contour-carved and are depicted with heart, ribs and so called "life-lines" indicated. Panel 1: There are 4 ship figures, of which 3 have vertical lines, frame, and 1 is very fragmentary with a stylised elks-head in the prow. There are 8 elks, different in style often superimposed, and 2 human figures. Panel 2: 2 elks, simple in style turned with the backs opposite each other. One has a spear-like line through the shoulder in the body. Panel 3: 4 distinct elks organised in some kind of composition, the images are very complicated and gives an impression of verve and spirit, an unusual feature at Norrfors. There are also a number of obscure figures. Panel 4: 11 elks, 1 human figure, 1 bird and 1 wheel cross arranged in a uniting way. All the elks are depicted with heads turned in the same direction except one. One superimposition, the wheel cross touches one of the elks. Panel 5 & 6: 1 resp. 2 figures depicted separated from the other panels.
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Figures: |
total number 60
28 elks
5 ship figures
2 human figures
1 bird
1 wheel cross
20 obscure, weathered figures.
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Chronology: |
Palaeolithic
Epipalaeolithic - Mesolithic
Neolithic
Copper Age
Bronze Age
Iron Age
Roman
Middle Age
Modern
Unknown
The carvings at Norrfors are situated 52-54 m a s, which according to the elevation of the land gives a date of not older than 2100 BC, probably 2000 BC. This date corresponds to the dating at Alta in Norway. The majority of the Norrfors carvings belong to the hunter-gatherer tradition.
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Notes: |
All rock carvings at Norrfors belong to the hunter-gatherer tradition, and can be dated to c. 2000 BC. It is suggested that the carvings were made in the summer and the paintings in the area in the winter. The elk is thought to have been the crucial winter pray, and the carvings depicting these animals were created in rituals aimed at preparing for survival and successful hunting during the hard winter season in interior of Northern Sweden. |
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Bibliography |
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Conservation |
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Status: |
Public
Private
Park
Classified site
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Risk: |
The major risk for carvings are chemical weathering, which makes the hard quartzite losen up and fall out, leaving white dots on the darker rock surface. Also natural weathering (mechanical weathering) during winter/spring, when water freeze in cracks and openings in the rock, creates major damage to rock faces with carvings. The biological weathering is also a danger to the rock carvings, and even to intense cleaning of the rock surface during documentation can make the rock fragile and expose the carvings to wind, water and air-born pollution. |
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Conservation: |
Good
Quite good
Mediocre
Bad
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Intervention: |
Problems concerning conservation and preservation, registration and documentation of rock carvings in Scandinavia are discussed by several departments, i.e. Riksantikvaren in Norway, Riksantikvarieämbetet in Sweden, several universities and research departments. Different methods are tested, for example covering of carved surfaces, measuring of temperature and different contents in water and air and also the composition in the granite. Hollows and cracks in the rock surface can be repaired and carefully filled in. The carvings have been painted. |
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By |
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Record n. 799 / 807 |
No commercial use is allowed. Specific © is mentioned in the captions or owned by each Author or Institution |
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EuroPreArt, European Prehistoric Art, is a web-based archaeological project funded by the European Union which aims to establish a lasting data-base of European prehistoric art documentation, to launch the base of an European institutional network and to contribute to the awareness of the diversity and richness of European Prehistoric Art.
It is proposed by: Instituto Politécnico de Tomar (IPT, Portugal),
CUEBC - European University Centre for Cultural Heritage (Italy - Europe),
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España),
Asociación Cultural Colectivo Barbaón (España),
Université de Liège (Belgique),
Gotland University College (Sverige),
University College Dublin (Eire),
Cooperativa Archeologica Le Orme dell'Uomo (Italia),
Study Centre and Museum of Prehistoric Art of
Pinerolo (Italia),
The European Centre for Prehistoric Research in the Alto Ribatejo (Portugal),
ArqueoJovem - a youth NGO (Portugal).
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