Geoart

For thousands of years, people all over the world have been making images on rock surfaces and stones. On the Helgeland coast, our forebears have manifested their thoughts and philosophies of life through figures they have carved, chipped or honed into rock, or painted in dark, narrow passages in caves.

Matchstick-like figures in prehistoric cave paintings are among the earliest depictions of people. Several sites with cave paintings have been recorded within the boundaries of Trollfjell Geopark, but only one, Solsem Cave on Leka, has been made available to visitors. It is on the outer coast of the island, and was eroded by waves. The painted figures look like a row of dancing people. We can only speculate as to whether the images had specific functions, but a possible interpretation is that they depict a form of religious practice or magic rites.