Bjørnstadfeltet

Edited Sentinel-2 satellite image of Bjørnstadfeltet in Sarpsborg.
Edited Sentinel-2 satellite image of the Bjørnstadfeltet in Sarpsborg.

Bjørnstadfeltet is a site with petroglyphs in Sarpsborg and a part of Oldtidsruta. The site is also known as Bjørnstadskipet, or the Bjørnstad ship, because of the large ship figure dominating the site. The petroglyphs are dated to the Nordic Bronze Age (1800 BCE -500 BCE)

The petroglyphs at the site are painted, but the paint had started to fade when I visited. The figures may become difficult to see unless they are repainted. Many petroglyphs are no longer painted because the paint can damage the figures.

Photograph of petroglyphs at Bjørnstad (helleristningene på Bjørnstad).

The vertical lines along the ships are often interpreted as the passengers, or crew, of the ship. If this is the case here, the larger figures at either end of the large ship may represent giants or gods.

Photograph of petroglyphs at Bjørnstad (helleristningene på Bjørnstad).
Photograph of petroglyphs at Bjørnstad (helleristningene på Bjørnstad).