‘The world as we know it’ – revisiting the rock art at Bergbukten 4B in Alta, northern Norway

The Bergbukten 4B panel in Alta, northern Norway, reveals a sophisticated cosmographical representation by Stone Age hunter-fisher-gatherers, dated to approximately 6000–7000 years ago. This panel, one of the largest in northern Europe with over 200 figures, integrates real and imaginary landscapes within a three-tiered cosmological framework. The rock art's figures interact with natural features, suggesting a visual depiction of activities and places mirroring actual locations. This 'world as we know it' reflects a complex memoryscape stored in the rocks, blending practical knowledge with cosmographical understanding.

Gjerde, J. M. (2019). ‘The world as we know it’ – revisiting the rock art at Bergbukten 4B in Alta, northern Norway. Time and Mind, 12(3), 197–206. https://doi.org/10.1080/1751696x.2019.1645521