Reindeer were the most important food for our European ancestors. About 6000 years ago some stone age person was carving this picture of a reindeer in the rocks. Bølareinen is probably the most famous rock art in Norway, and is visited by about 30.000 people every year. Included many tourists who stop to visit on their way to North Cape.
The carving of the life size reindeer was found in 1842. Since then more carvings are discovered in the area, like a bear and a person, the latter in 2001. The carvings in Bølareinen used to be painted, but the new trends for archealogical rock art sites is to not add any colour. That way it is harder to see the art of our ancestors, but at the same time, this is maybe how they were originally.
There is a small waterfall among the different rock art in this place, and some information.
There are more pictures from Bølareinen in my photo gallery. And also pictures from other rock art sites in Norway. And I have previously made a post about the rock art of Alta, a Unesco World Heritage site since 1885.
https://bentehaarstad.wordpress.com/2011/08/12/rock-art-helleristningene-i-alta/
Bente Haarstad Photography 
A lot of work to carve that picture into the rock, especially with primitive tools.
LikeLike
Primitive tools for sure, Anneli, so definitely a lot of work.
LikeLike
Thank you for sharing this most interesting photo and story of distant Earthly inhabitants. excellent photo!
LikeLike
This is like the amazing Indian Cliff drawings near Sedona Arizona…just amazing! Thanks!
LikeLike
Art works thousands of years old are amazing. I wish I could see those in Arizona. And other places. Thanks Suzanne.
LikeLike
Wow, so intriguing!
LikeLike
I agree, Chocolatier.
LikeLike
I t
LikeLike
I tried it. I thought the taste is good and it’s important culture there.
LikeLike
You mean you tasted reindeer meat while in Europe, Cocomino? That is impressive. Reindeer was important food and culture all over Europe thousands of years ago. Now mainly in northern Scandinavia.
LikeLike
How amazing and beautiful, will put that on my list of places to visit,
Cheers Callie
LikeLike
Then you will have a real long way to go, I bet there are some closer to you, Callie, but probably not reindeers.
LikeLike
That is so amazing! Is it open to the elements?
LikeLike
Completely open to the elements, Madhu. Covered with moss and vegetation when they are found, so I know some experts are a bit worried about the effects of these elements.
LikeLike
I visited the Alta rock art 8 years ago and it was very impressive. Thanks for the tip to Bølareinen. I’ve never heard about it before. But should I be nearby I*ll visit it. It looks interesting because they are without colours! Ha en kjempefin dag. 🙂
LikeLike
Bølareinen is about exactly half the way to Alta, Allesistgut, close to the city Steinkjer. Even this reindeer had some colour some years ago. It was easier to see the carving then, but the colour was added..
LikeLike
I didn’ notice it at first, but then I saw the drawing. This is impressive to see this vestige of the past so well preserved !
LikeLike
I know it is a bit hard to see, but glad you found the reindeer at last. Thanks, Karine.
LikeLike
Very interesting. The making of art is a sign of highly evolved civilization, and 6000 years is quite a long time… 🙂
LikeLike
I may be hard to imagine that we had some sort of civilization even before the viking period, Alessandro, but the art work from the stone age is interesting.
LikeLike
Nice shots. Interesting about the stop on painting them, I was on a site in the US recently, there they had painted around man made features, water channels and the like, I found it very bad taste.
LikeLike
Again a very interesting post Bente. Thnx for sharing all this info. 🙂
And your wonderful pictures of course.
LikeLike
Thanks a lot for your comment, Cybermum.
LikeLike
Very nice. Thank you for posting these. 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks for your comment, Mcolmo.
LikeLike
I really had to look to see the first outline…I was looking for a bit of colour..In South Africa I have sen rock art created with reds and browns…QUite something to engrave it in the rock like that!
LikeLike
I am certain you have very interesting rock art in South Africa, Lisaman. It would be nice to see…
LikeLike
SA is definitely a great destination with the cradle of human kind museum and the san rock art so vivid in places!!
LikeLike
Reindeers on the rocks ! That is so very incredible Bente. Beautiful photos and I would love to explore this park as you have been able to do.
LikeLike
It is not exactly a park, Emily. It is just a part of a huge forest with some rock art in it. Everybody is free to go there anytime. But you are right, it is an interesting place.
LikeLike
How cool!
LikeLike
How interesting – thanks for sharing Bente.
This area looks like the sort of place I would like to visit.
LikeLike
What a precious piece of art/history that is!
LikeLike
That’s really interesting!
LikeLike
Magical place – I would love to see these as I have always been interested in rock carvings.
LikeLike
An incredible artwork created with very primitive tools.
LikeLike
The waterfall photo is amazing! congratulations
LikeLike
Excelente Bente, excelente reportaje. Y te digo que por acá tenemos de esa cualidad, en insculturas de petroglifos, parecidos a todos esos que publicas. Por cierto, que el paisaje no deja de tener un gran parecido en general.
Saludos…
LikeLike
Gracias por tu comentario, Alpuymuz. Saludos.
LikeLike
Fabulous photos! Yet first I thought a “reindeer on the rocks” was a new cocktail for the holidays! 😉
LikeLike
Wish it was, Diane. Thanks for your nice comment. 😉
LikeLike
What a beautiful drawing. I’ve never seen these Norwegian works of art before.
LikeLike
fantastic, whoever did that, got to appreciate them for this perfect carving, very artistic. Loved the shot.
LikeLike
Magiskt vackra bilder!
Allt gott till dej och en kram!
LikeLike