The World Heritage of Tanum

The area embraces about 500 sites of rock carvings that total some ten thousand seperate figures. The World Heritage Committee expressed its motivation for the choise as follows:
"The rock carvings of the Tanum region constitute an outstanding example of Bronze Age art of the highest quality. The range of motifs provide exceptional evidence of life in the European Bronze Age.
The continuity of settlement and consistency in land use in Tanum, as illustrated by the rock art, the archelogical remains, and the features of the modern landscape in the Tanum Region, combine to make this a remarkable example of continuity over eight millenia of human history"

Four sites of rock carvings have been prepared for visitors, namely Vitlycke, Aspeberget, Litsleby and Fossum. Over and above the large pictorial rock faces there are paths leading to other sites of carving in the vicinity. In general the carvings are paint-filled and signborded, and at each site there are parking and toilet facilities.

The Vitycke rock streches 22 metres acrossand is one of the largest rockcarvings in Sweden and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world every year. There are 170 cups marks and almost 300 figures cut into the rock. The most known of the pictures is The Bridal Couple (or Lovers)

This rockcarving has a familiar location for Bohuslän; a smooth rock panel at the foot of an outcrop, facing the sun. There are around 130 carvings on this rock. The closely connected composition and similarity in cutting style are indication that the majority of the carvings were carried out by one person. The artistic quality is particularly high. Here you can see a beautiful Woman, hunting scenes and dogs.