At Salthamaren in Vangdal you'll find one of Norway's most unusual prehistoric sites. What makes it remarkable is that the same cliff face has rock carvings from two completely different eras - something extremely rare in Scandinavia.
On top of the cliff, Stone Age hunters carved animal figures around 5,000 to 6,000 years ago. Only two complete figures remain visible - one appears to be an elk, the other a red deer. There are also some crude human figures carved in the same period. These are what archaeologists call "hunter carvings", made by people who lived by fishing, hunting and gathering.
More than 1,500 years later, Bronze Age farmers added their own images at the foot of the same rock - ship figures, typical of the agricultural societies that had by then settled in the region.
The site has been developed as a proper rest area with fibre glass walkways, a viewing platform for the Stone Age carvings, and lighting that makes the art visible even after dark. In fact, visiting at night with the illumination is recommended for the best experience.
The rest area is being renovated in 2025 with new tables, benches and safety railings toward the fjord view.
