Arctic Rock Art

This is an optional course and may be taken as a single course.

Rock art images provide a fascinating glimpse into past societies. The Nordic countries have a wealth of sites and a wide variety of different motifs, ranging from life-sized animals and detailed hunting scenes, to images of shamans and warriors, to prehistoric ritual scenes.

This course will provide an overview of Nordic rock art with an emphasis on the northernmost sites. It will briefly outline the history of research on rock art, before moving to the modern methods for analysis and interpretation of rock art. Examples from areas beyond Scandinavia will be included, to present an understanding of the diversity of rock art.

Higher Education Entrance Qualification (generell studiekompetanse) or prior learning and work experience (realkompetanse). Application code: 9199 (Nordic applicants).

No background knowledge of archaeology is required.

The students will have the following learning outcomes:

Knowledge

The student will  have:

• Fundamental knowledge of rock art in northern Fennoscandia
• Fundamental knowledge of rock art in other parts of the Nordic countries and beyond
• Fundamental knowledge of the history of research on rock art
• Fundamental knowledge and understanding of recent methodological developments in documentation and analysis of rock art
• Fundamental insight into recent theories and interpretations of the ritual, social and economic context of the Arctic rock art

Skills

The student is able to / can:

• Identify different categories of Nordic rock art
• Discuss different interpretations
• Prepare and present a short powerpoint on rock art

12 lectures and - weather allowing - one excursion. The lectures will provide the empirical and theoretical overview of rock art research. The lectures will include short groups discussions to allow student to reflect on key issues.

All courses will be evaluated once during the period of the study program. The board of the program decides which courses will be evaluated by students and teacher each year. 

Language of instruction and examination

The course is open for inbound exchange students.

Do you have questions about this module? Please check the following website to contact the course coordinator for exchange students at the faculty: INBOUND STUDENT MOBILITY: COURSE COORDINATORS AT THE FACULTIES | UiT

More info about the coursework requirements

• Group or individual preparation and presentation of a 5-10 minute powerpoint of one or more rock art panels.

Re-sit examination