Abbas Cheshmeh G.
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After visiting the beautiful Elgåfossen waterfall, we continued our journey with a 30 km drive and stopped for lunch at the Tanum shopping area. From there, it was just another 5 km to reach one of Sweden’s true historical gems: the Tanum World Heritage Site and Vitlycke Museum.
Unfortunately, we arrived just after the museum had closed for the day at 4 PM, so we couldn’t go inside. But luckily, several of the ancient rock carving sites are located outdoors, on the hillside overlooking the museum. We followed short trails through the forest, each just a few minutes’ walk apart, and visited six fascinating sites.
These rock carvings are incredibly interesting and date back to the Bronze Age, around 3,000 years ago. They include depictions of people, animals, rituals, and boats. In fact, while looking at one of the carvings, I suddenly realized where the design on the Swedish 50kronor banknote comes from , it’s taken directly from one of these ancient boat carvings! That little discovery added a whole new layer of connection to the place.
It’s easy to imagine that thousands of years ago, when the landscape was more open and less covered in vegetation, these carvings were more visible and widespread. Today, many may still be hidden beneath soil, moss, or lichen. Overall, visiting this mysterious and ancient place left a deep impression, a strange and powerful feeling, as if walking through whispers from the past. A must-visit for anyone who loves history, nature, or simply discovering the unexpected.