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Rock carvings on Bornholm: Images of the past
The Bronze Age on Bornholm spans from approximately 1700 BC to 500 BC, marking a time of significant cultural and technological development.
Bornholm is especially renowned for its petroglyphs, which are scattered across the island and offer a unique glimpse into the religious life and beliefs of its Bronze Age inhabitants. The island also has an impressive number of cairns, burial mounds and menhirs that bear witness to a culture rich in rituals.
Most Bronze Age finds on Bornholm come from burial mounds. During the Early Bronze Age, the dead were laid to rest in large burial mounds, often inside stone or oak coffins, accompanied by an abundance of burial gifts. These mounds were sometimes expanded over time with additional burials, resulting in their impressive size.
During the Late Bronze Age, burial practices shifted to cremation, with the ashes of the deceased placed in urns and interred within the burial mounds. This shift is likely to be a reflection of a change in religious beliefs.
The most fascinating traces of the Bronze Age on Bornholm are the many petroglyphs scattered around the island. Carved into large stones and rock faces, these images and symbols are thought to hold deep religious significance, likely connected to sun worship and the cycles of nature.
On North Bornholm near Allinge lies Madsebakke, the largest petroglyph site in the Nordics.
Also dating from the Late Bronze Age are the many cairns, which are burial mounds built of stone. These stone cairns were often erected over cremation sites or urns containing ashes, and are particularly well-preserved in areas where the soil is difficult to cultivate, such as forested areas.
The largest collection of cairns on Bornholm is located at Gryet near Nexø, where you can also find some of the island’s oldest menhirs. These ancient standing stones serve as monuments from the past, likely marking significant places or individuals.
Bornholms Museum is the island’s cultural history museum in the centre of Rønne, reflecting 10,000 years of history – both the old and the recent times. Bornholms Museum is a state-renowned cultural history museum for Bornholm and Christiansø.
Madsebakke is one of Northern Europes most important areas with rock carvings (petroglyphs) from the Bronze Age. It’s said that the carvings are up to 3000 years old.
