Rock carving Jarrestad

About

The Rock of the Dancer is famous all over the world, it is mentioned in scientific literature in countless languages. With around 1,200 images, the 500-square- metre quartzite rock slab is one of the largest rock carving sites in Scandinavia. There is a great variation of motifs here. A small number of animals, circles, weapons, spirals, wheel crosses and horsemen are found among the 25 ships, 210 feet, 700 cup marks and 300 images that have not yet been deciphered. The feet are naked or shod, and there are many different interpretations. Some say that they symbolize gods that manifest their presence, others that the footprints were aids to the dead as they passed to the next life. Others believe they were made by community leaders. The Dancer is found on the southern perimeter of the rock. The human figure appears to dance across the stone, but no one knows what it signifies. Maybe it is a shaman, or even the god himself.