Researchers Find 2,700-Year-Old Petroglyphs Depicting Ships, People

A team of archaeologists has uncovered a handful of petroglyphs on the side of a large rock in Sweden. The petroglyphs, estimated to be roughly 2,700 years old, depict people, animals, and even ships.

The images were found in Bohuslän, a province in northwest Sweden known for its ancient rock carvings. Researchers with the Foundation for Documentation of Bohuslän's Rock Carvings were exploring granite formations when they caught a few tell-tale lines on the face of a steep rock. After removing a carpet of moss covering the face of the rock, the team found a slew of hand-carved images portraying people on a ship, two people walking toward each other, lone and grouped animals, and more. The longest ship (pictured above) is about 13 feet long, while the other petroglyphs are 12 to 16 inches long.

Some researchers believe that because a few of the images repeat themselves, the petroglyphs could have comprised a visual narrative. Others think they’re spiritual, as are many petroglyphs from various cultures worldwide. There’s also the chance that they could have been used as some sort of signal to approaching peoples since the land the rock stands on is believed to have been covered by water 2,700 years ago.  

Credit: Foundation for Documentation of Bohuslän's Rock Carvings

The petroglyphs are crisp and bright, causing those unfamiliar with the region’s archaeological landmarks to speculate that they’re newer than researchers are letting on. It’s currently unclear if the photographed petroglyphs have been painted over, as is common in Bohuslän. Painting petroglyphs is a controversial practice: While those who do it argue it helps visitors see and appreciate ancient symbols, others say paint obscures the authenticity of each image and ruins future attempts at preservation. The practice is used at a Bohuslän UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site consisting of more than 1,500 petroglyphs depicting humans, animals, weapons, musical instruments, cups, ships, and more, all in bright red paint. One of them, a human-like figure more than 6 feet tall, is believed to depict the God of War Odin. 

The newly-discovered petroglyphs are pictured in white. One of the archaeologists who found the petroglyphs told Live Science that people probably created the images by chipping away at the granite with other rocks, revealing a highly visible white layer underneath. This means it’s possible the “new” petroglyphs haven’t been painted; after all, the moss covering the images could have protected their integrity, unlike faded petroglyphs in the American Southwest that have been directly exposed to sun, wind, and rain.