The open-air Alta Museum in Finnmark County, founded in 1991, is a unique monument of ancient history, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Here are presented rock paintings - petroglyphs from the period of 4200-500 BC, belonging to the Komsa culture, who are the ancestors of the Sami. Carved images of various animals and birds, scenes of hunting, fishing, scenes from everyday life, mysterious geometric symbols are specially painted with red ocher for better viewing on all walking paths with a total length of about three kilometers.
These drawings depicted a chronicle of the most important historical of the ancient tribe's most important historical events, and may also have been the simplest form of art of the time. The most common among the petroglyphs are depictions of deer, salmon and a boat. There is every reason to believe that the symbol of worship of the Sami ancestors was the bear.
The archaeological museum in Alta is open all year round, but accessible to visitors from May to early October, until the drawings are covered by snow.
In July there are daily personalised guided tours at 12.00 noon, on other days a detailed guidebook is included in the ticket price. Groups of 10 people or more must book an accompanying guide in advance. There is a café with soft drinks and sweets, as well as a souvenir shop.
