Maritime networks and rock art in Bronze Age southern Scandinavia

Scandinavian rock art represents the largest body of pictorial evidence from prehistoric Europe. In the Bronze Age of South Scandinavia (c. 1700–500 BC), the rock art is characterised by depictions of watercraft. The majority are close to the coast, so less attention has been paid to similar drawings associated with inland water. In this talk, I introduce the rock art of the region, present the results of fieldwork around two lakes in Sweden, and consider the relationship of inland images to the betterknown images on the coast. I will also explore the practicalities of navigating between the sea and the interior, using rock art as a proxy for understanding potential 'maritime places' in inland environments, and put forth different ideas about the function of these sites within wider Bronze Age networks.