| Munisipality |
Flora |
| Region |
Sogn og Fjordane |
| Country |
Norway |
Travel instructions:
The rock art site Ausevik is situated about 40 km SE of Florø. Follow the European main road E5 to Eikefjord, about 25 km. Then turn to the right and follow a local road No 611 towards Stavang about 12 km.
General description
The Ausevik rock art site is located in an extraordinarily and monumental setting, it is close to a farm with pastoral fields overlooking a fjord and facing snow covered mountain peaks. The contrast of the setting is intense.
The Ausevik rock art is believed to have been made over a long time throughout the transition from a hunting society to a farmer’s society. The most numerous motive is the deer with the interior of the body being geometrically decorated. But the younger carvings contain many abstract or geometrical figures. Often you can see a combination of the two categories.
Unfortunately, the panels are in a rather critical condition. Therefore visitors are requested to be very careful when walking around. A wooden path through a restricted area is now under construction, and plans are being prepared for a visitors’ centre.
Dating
The Ausevik carvings are dated to the transition between Mesolithic and Neolithic, approximately 4000 BC.
Best time to visit
The Ausevik rock art site is situated at the west coast, and is therefore theoretically accessible all year. Though, out of respect for both you and the rock art, we strongly recommend the spring or the summer season. Some of the panels are also covered during the winter time.
Other regional attractions
The municipality of Flora offers a variety of archaeological and historical sites, among these, the diabase quarry at Stalaldeneset at Eikefjord which was run from 7000 to 2500 BC.