– It is a boy’s dream to find such a treasure, says Svein Erik Hodneland. Hodneland is very interested in history. And then especially older history related to rock art. When he read an article last autumn that in 2017 rock paintings had been found at Kråknes in Alta, he decided to find some himself. With a separate app, archaeologists are able to bring out the motifs on the rocks better. This is one of the finds in the Transfarelv in Alta. Photo: Svein-Erik Hodneland As I said, so done. – I went to Transfarelv where finds of rock paintings have already been made. When I came up a narrow gorge, I suddenly saw something man-made on the mountain. At first I thought I saw wrong, but when I got closer I saw that it was rock paintings. – Afterwards, I found two more areas. In one find, two people and one animal were painted. In the other places, some geometric figures and several lines in a pattern were painted. In other words, it was a complete flap, he says himself. Svein Erik Hodneland (in a red jacket) found 5,000-year-old rock paintings in Transfarelv in Alta. This autumn, he was with archaeologist Rune Normann at the Alta Museum on an inspection of the area. Photo: Marit Arntzen / Alta museum – Something for the history books Hodneland immediately contacted Alta museum. – It is exactly such things that make it fun and interesting to be an archaeologist. For us, it was like Christmas Eve when Svein-Erik told what he had found, says archaeologist Marit Arntzen at the World Heritage Center for Rock Art – Alta Museum IKS. – It was like Christmas Eve for us when we found out about the find, says archaeologist Marit Arntzen at the World Heritage Center for Rock Art – Alta Museum IKS. Photo: Jan-Erik Steine / news And just a few days later, a group of excited archaeologists went up to the site. Last week, an archaeologist at the Norwegian Arctic University Museum, Ingrid Sommerseth, visited the area. She can confirm that one painting shows a moose and a human. And one of the geometric figures can show a net or a yarn, she thinks. Based on other finds in the area, Sommerseth believes that the rock paintings of Hodneland can be dated to around 2000-3000 BC. That is, they are between 4,000 and 5,000 years old. Is this a 5,000 year old “selfie”? Photo: MARI ARNTZEN / MARI ARNTZEN – Imagine that Svein-Erik was the first to see the paintings in maybe 5000 years! It’s pretty amazing and absolutely amazing! What is extra special about this particular find is the height at which it was found. – It is not common to find rock paintings as high as 90 meters. Here we probably have to write about the history books, says Sommerseth. Archaeologist at the Norwegian Arctic University Museum, Ingrid Sommerseth. Photo: Norwegian Arctic University Museum / Private – National value Sommerseth says that the rock paintings were probably painted on the rock with his fingers. And as a paint, a mixture of grease and ocher (a reddish stone crushed to dust) was probably used. In northern Norway, only 22 localities with rock paintings have been registered. On a national basis, there are only just under 100 such places. In comparison, there are approximately 2,200 sites with rock carvings and sliptberg art. Maybe around 5000 years ago, it sat a human and painted two people and what looks like a fishing net on the mountain in Transfarelv in Alta. Photo: MARI ARNTZEN / MARI ARNTZEN This rarity means that the director of the National Heritage Board, Eva Walderhaug, believes that the discovery has national significance. – The rock paintings make up only a small proportion of the total rock art. It has to do with the fact that they are very vulnerable and much has probably been lost over time. – The finding is therefore very important, both in terms of management, but also for research. The paintings give us an idea of people’s beliefs and thoughts in a more direct way than many other traces from the past. And it is valuable. – The rock paintings make up only a small proportion of the total rock art. It has to do with the fact that they are very vulnerable and a lot has probably been lost over time, says subject director at the National Heritage Board, Eva Walderhaug. Photo: John H. Ulvøy, Helgelands Blad On a new hunt Svei-Erik Hodneland has now got blood on his teeth. He has already been looking for rock art elsewhere, and does not rule out new discoveries. – I do not think many people are aware that there are a number of rock paintings here in Finnmark. The petroglyphs have received most of the attention. At least I think it’s very exciting. – It gives an extra dimension to the fishing trip to look for rock art from the Stone Age. I’m just like a boy again. Just put on the right “glasses” and find out what to look for, says Hodneland. – A boy’s dream that comes true, Svein Erik Hodneland tells about the discovery of 5000 year old rock paintings in Alta. Photo: Jan-Erik Steine / news
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Rock painting and rock art in Alta can be 5000 years old – news Troms and Finnmark
