The red-painted rock carvings
When the Alta rock carvings were discovered in the 1970s, many were painted red to make them easier to see. This was common practice at the time, but today it is viewed differently. Paint can damage the carvings, hide details, and give a misleading impression. That is why the modern paint is now being removed.
The rock carvings in Hjemmeluft were made 7,000–2,000 years ago on bedrocks by the shoreline. The reddish-brown rock surface, coloured by iron oxide, gave strong contrast to the light figures. As the land rose, the carvings were lifted away from the shoreline. Lichens and plants took hold, causing chemical weathering that turned the rock surface grey. Today, we remove vegetation to help preserve the carvings. This also makes the figures easier to see – though less striking than they once were.
The end of the red paint
Between 2010 and 2015, most of the paint was removed from the rock carvings in Hjemmeluft. The remaining panels are now next in line. This is the concluding phase of a long-term effort to return the carvings to a more original and authentic state.
The work is carried out by specialists using a method developed specifically for the rock type in Hjemmeluft. The project is funded by the Directorate for Cultural Heritage. The team is from the NTNU University Museum in Trondheim and the Arctic University Museum of Norway in Tromsø.
Discover the unpainted carvings!
They are most visible when low sunlight casts shadows in the figures – but many can also be seen in other lighting.
Take your time. Once you spot one figure, more often appear.
Explore different viewpoints. Even small shifts in perspective can reveal more.