Vardeneset Petroglyphs

Satellite image showing the location of Vardeneset in Stavanger.
Edited Sentinel-2 satellite image of Vardeneset in Stavanger.

I visited Vareneset in Stavanger to have a look at the rock carvings in the area. I wasn’t able to find much information about how many petroglyph figures there are in the location before going there. Vardeneset is also sometimes spelled “Vardenes”. It’s the same location.

The rock carvings are supposed to be near the small lighthouse Vardeneset fyr (also known as Dusavika lykt). On my way down to the lighthouse I came across an area with some markings that may have been petroglyphs. One group of marks sort of look like a typical petroglyph ship figure.

Photo of area near Vardeneset fyr where there may be petroglyphs.
Photo near Vardeneset fyr of may or may not be a petroglyph.
Marks on the ground that may or may not be traces of petroglyphs

Continuing down towards the sea and the lighthouse I found an area with abstract petroglyph figures with fading paint. There is no consensus on how to interpret these types of abstract petroglyph figures. To me some of them look a bit like plowed fields viewed from above. The carvings are dated to the Nordic Bronze Age, when agriculture became common in Norway.

Photo of area with petroglyphs near Vardeneset fyr.
Photo of petroglyphs near Vardeneset fyr.
Photo of petroglyphs near Vardeneset fyr.
Photo of petroglyphs near Vardeneset fyr.
Photo of petroglyphs near Vardeneset fyr.
Photo of petroglyphs near Vardeneset fyr.
Photo of area with petroglyphs near Vardeneset fyr.

The lighthouse is just beyond the area with painted rock carvings.

Photo of Vardeneset fyr in the distance.
Photo of Vardeneset fyr in the distance.
Photo of Corona pandemic instructions 
 at Vardeneset fyr.
Corona pandemic instructions at the lighthouse.