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Understanding rockcarvings (as an form of Land Art) is a
very slow process, like some kind of geographical and geological evolution of knowledge.
The old signs out there are rich in diverse symbols, different levels of abstractions and
oscillates between pure abstraction and pure concretism, between logic and language.
It´s the message of the world of feelings as well as the world of economical (and other)
transactions.
Man on the rocks is a man in dancing moods as well as in serene stargazing loneliness.
Woman, depicted on the rocks, is an active participant in the world of the old saga.
In most cases women are depicted in closeness of the circle and with a horses tail
(Scandinavia).
She someplace rides all alone in a small ship playing the lyre, an old instrument in the
form of an u perhaps with catgut strings.
But cats are never to be seen at the petroglyphic sites of the north.
(radically contrasting the hieroglyphic sites of the south) instead there are a lot of
dogs (and other animals).
People in the north were hunters as well as farmers by this time.
Mostly they were seafarers and fishermen according to the astounding amounts of depicted
ships along the Fenno-Scandinavian coasts.
Some of them catched whales as well as big fish, they celebrated their comings and goings
with large horns and other trumpetlike instruments.
People were making acrobatic maneuvers celebrating the human body and attracting partners.
People felt the deep love for the world and the own self - and the artists told the saga
of this love.
There were good times and good weather in the northern seas and the Scandinavian
rockcarvings tell a story of peaceful celebration of life itself.
Tomas Brusell
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