Ancient rock paintings found by father in Norway: photos
While out hiking with family, a dad noticed a rock with unusual coloring — and discovered several ancient paintings. Photos show the first-of-its kind find.
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Tormod Fjeld was hiking with family in the Moss area when they stopped for a rest break near a boulder, Viken County Municipality said in a June 19 news release.
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Looking at the rock, Fjeld noticed it had some unnatural coloring and patterns. He took a closer look and identified several painted scenes along the slab, officials said.
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Fjeld is a graphic designer, but he — along with two friends — has spent years searching for petroglyphs around Norway, Science in Norway reported in November. The trio has identified almost 600 petroglyphs since 2016.
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Archaeologists looked at the paintings Fjeld discovered and confirmed they were authentic ancient drawings, the release said.
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Jan Magne Gjerde, an archaeologist with the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research, estimated the paintings dated to the Bronze Age, the organization said in a news release.
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The ancient scenes are easy to miss. Highlighted photos show the drawings in a red hue. One scene shows two distinctly human figures standing together, possibly a hunting scene, cultural researchers said.
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Another enhanced photo shows a boat being rowed, officials said. Other scenes depicted animals.
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The ancient paintings are the first of their kind found in the Moss area, the release said. Moss is a coastal region about 40 miles south of Oslo.
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Officials urged people not to touch the rock due to its rarity and fragility, fearing that the paintings could be erased.
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Google Translate was used to translate the news releases from Viken County Municipality and the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Heritage Research.
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https://www.bnd.com/news/nation-world/world/article276573466.html Ancient rock paintings found by father in Norway: photos