In the early 1930’s a local landowner brought the rock images at Ausevik to the attention of the cultural heritage authorities, after having seen a picture of a comparable site at Vingen in the local newspaper. These proved to be one of the largest and most interesting collections in Norway.
The picture of a deer in the Rock Carvings of Ausevika
The Rock Carvings of Ausevika
Ausevik lies at the western extremity of a mountain ridge which extends as far as the Jotunheimen Mountains and forms a major animal migration route between the mountains and the coast. For thousands of years, people have expressed their ideas and thoughts in a visual form. Rock images in Norway are found directly on bedrock, on boulders and stones, or as engravings in caves or on rock faces. In Norway these fall into two main classes, those depicting a hunting and trapping culture and those made by farmers, the latter starting around 1800 BC. Ausevik is an important example of the first category, probably dating from the latter part of the Early Stone Age, around 4000 BC. Remains of many Stone Age settlements have been found at Ausevik, including one on the site of the presentday farm buildings.
AUSEVIK IS ONE OF THE LARGEST AND MOST SPECTACULAR
COLLECTIONS OF ROCK IMAGES IN SOUTHERN NORWAY
So far, 350 images have been found over an area of 1500 square metres. Probably, many more lie as yet undiscovered. The figures at Ausevik represent an unusual diversity in style, subject and combination of figures. The figures differ from those commonly portrayed in rock art and reflect a different pattern of traditions than that found in other parts of the country. Geometrical patterns, spirals and labyrinths are depicted throughout the area. Many different human figures are depicted as well as red deer. Deer have obviously had an important role in the local community 6000 years ago.
ROCK IMAGES– AN INSIGHT INTO THE WORLD
OF THE STONE AGE PEOPLE
The rock images at Ausevik were made by members of a hunterfisher- gatherer community in the Stone Age. They give us primarily an insight into the community’s beliefs, ideas and rituals, possible along with their myths and legends. The rock images also give us a picture of the environment conditions and the natural resources available at that time, through the fauna illustrated. We know from other excavations of dwelling sites that fish was an important food resource, whereas deer is the most frequently depicted animal at Ausevik. The rock carvings at Ausevik were formed on rocks close to the sea during the Stone Age. After this, as the land surface rose, new rock surfaces closer to the sea were used for carvings. Today the rock images lie between 10 and 15 metres over the present sea level.
Read more about the Rock Carvings of Ausevika in this pdf-brochure.