Near the Figgjoelva river in Klepp, this monumental rock shelter measures 17.5 metres long, 5 metres wide, and up to 3.5 metres high. Excavations in 1906 to 1909 uncovered continuous occupation traces spanning nearly 7,000 years, from about 6400 BC to 570 AD, making it one of the most important Stone Age dwelling sites on Jæren, alongside Vistehola in Randaberg. The shelter produced massive quantities of flint tools, bone implements, shells, and ceramics from multiple periods.
The single most significant find is an ox bone documenting the oldest known domesticated cattle in Norway, dated to the Middle Neolithic period, roughly 3340 to 2890 BC. This is crucial evidence for when animal husbandry was introduced to Norway, marking the transition from a purely hunter-gatherer society to one that kept livestock. The early excavations unfortunately produced no drawings or sketches, only vague descriptions.
A rescue excavation in August 2020, funded by Riksantikvaren and led by the Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger, assessed preservation conditions and found that climate change is actively destroying the site. Increased rainfall and extreme weather are washing out the outer portions of the shelter floor, eroding cultural layers accumulated over thousands of years of human occupation. The 2020 dig was limited to two small areas to determine what protective measures are needed before more of the record is lost.
The single most significant find is an ox bone documenting the oldest known domesticated cattle in Norway, dated to the Middle Neolithic period, roughly 3340 to 2890 BC. This is crucial evidence for when animal husbandry was introduced to Norway, marking the transition from a purely hunter-gatherer society to one that kept livestock. The early excavations unfortunately produced no drawings or sketches, only vague descriptions.
A rescue excavation in August 2020, funded by Riksantikvaren and led by the Archaeological Museum at the University of Stavanger, assessed preservation conditions and found that climate change is actively destroying the site. Increased rainfall and extreme weather are washing out the outer portions of the shelter floor, eroding cultural layers accumulated over thousands of years of human occupation. The 2020 dig was limited to two small areas to determine what protective measures are needed before more of the record is lost.
