This rock shelter on the island of Otrøya is one of the earliest known human dwelling sites in the Romsdal region. Archaeological excavations have uncovered traces of Stone Age occupation dating back roughly 9,500 years, when the coastline here was a prime hunting and fishing ground for early settlers moving northward along the Norwegian coast after the last ice age.
The finds include tools made from flint and local stone, animal bones, and other refuse that tell us about the diet and daily life of these coastal hunter-gatherers. The shelter's position, tucked under an overhang with a view toward the sea, made it an ideal seasonal camp: protection from wind and rain, with easy access to marine resources.
Today the site is marked with an information board. The shelter itself is unassuming, a natural rock overhang rather than a deep cave. But standing here, looking out at the same coastline those first inhabitants saw, gives a sense of just how long people have been drawn to this part of Norway.
The finds include tools made from flint and local stone, animal bones, and other refuse that tell us about the diet and daily life of these coastal hunter-gatherers. The shelter's position, tucked under an overhang with a view toward the sea, made it an ideal seasonal camp: protection from wind and rain, with easy access to marine resources.
Today the site is marked with an information board. The shelter itself is unassuming, a natural rock overhang rather than a deep cave. But standing here, looking out at the same coastline those first inhabitants saw, gives a sense of just how long people have been drawn to this part of Norway.
