Isnestoften

The carvings at Isnestoften are all situated on loose boulders/rocks. The area is not included on the World Heritage List, but they are still managed by Alta Museum in the same way as the other sites in Alta. Some of the rocks are on display at the museum.

The landscape at Isnestoften Photo: Martin Hykkerud

The so-called “Pippinsteinen”  (“Pippi stone”), which was the first rock carving found in Alta, was discovered in this area. It is now exhibited at the museum. In 1998 a new rock carving was found just 4 km from the place where Pippinsteinen turned up 50 years earlier. This time it was a larger rock which was unearthed on Langnesholmen. Remains of dwellings on the isle from the Late Stone Age and the Early Bronze and Iron Ages have been registered. This particular rock was found when a potato field was being cleared of stones. There are nine figures on the stone, of which two are people, one is a boat, and six are reindeer. The rock is now on display at the World Heritage Rock Art Centre – Alta museum. In 2008 more rock carvings where found on this little isle, three new sites with between one and five or six figures. The first rock was found in May by staff at Alta Museum. In the autumn, these carvings were recorded, and at the same time several new rocks with carvings came to light.