Helleristningene i Alta: Estetikken, geologien og figurene

Abstract

<p>The dissertation contains an analysis and a re-evaluation of the Alta rock engravings, where the aesthetic qualities of the rocks and the engravings constitute the point of departure. Aesthetics is this context is not conceived of as something connected to beauty or art, but rather defined simply as cognition by sensory perception, the qualities of objects that can be perceived by the senses and the very sensing itself. Three papers with quite different approaches to the Alta rock engravings have been produced: <p>Geological features at the rock art site Jiepmaluokta were investigated, by geoarchaeologist Per Storemyr and the author. Our conclusion was that the rock engravings in Jiepmaluokta most likely were produced on rocks coated with a red ferrous film, which disappeared when the rocks where colonised by lichen. <p>One of the four major rock art sites in Alta, Storsteinen, was re-documented and the result analysed, mainly by comparing the content with that on other rock engraving sites. Storsteinen does not fit within the established chronological phases of the Alta rock art, but rather seems to represent a segment of its own. The analysis also demonstrated that the figures’ variation within the phases and the similarities between them are substantial. <p>In the third paper, the ways the Alta rock art has been interpretated since its discovery in the 1970s were described, and alternative approaches suggested. <p>In the introduction, rock art as archaeological objects and how they are conceived of as not belonging to the realm of art, are discussed. The variations the figures display are presented, as is accumulative processes that may explain the large concentrations of rock art at some locations. Further, the aesthetics of the rocks and the seashore are described. The value of recognising creativity in the past and uncertainty in the present are underlined, continuing into a discussion on authenticity and democratisation connected to dissemination of the Alta rock art.

<p>Helleristningene i Alta består av tusenvis av figurer som ble laget for mellom 2000-7000 år siden. I tidens løp har feltenes utseende forandret seg, gjennom naturlige prosesser i et skiftende miljø. I dette forskningsprosjektet er begrepet estetikk sentralt, ikke som knyttet til skjønnhet, men heller til sansene og sanselig erkjennelse. Bergflatenes geologiske og estetiske egenskaper har blitt undersøkt gjennom geokjemiske analyser, og vi vet nå mer om hvordan helleristningene så ut for tusenvis av år siden. En revurdering av figurene har resultert i et nytt forslag for den tidligste kronologien og samtidig belyst den store variasjonen i figurene. <p>Den estetiske tilnærmingen til geologien, figurene og naturen selv har inspirert til en alternativ forståelse. Helleristningene i Alta har blitt knyttet til religion og ritualer for å sikre overlevelse. Heller enn om makt og kontroll, kan helleristningene ha handlet om det folk brydde seg om, og uttrykke livsglede og kreativitet.