Kongshus: Stone Age traces and history on Årøya

Kongshus on Årøya appeals to travelers who want to include archaeological traces and local history in their choice of destination. Above the village is a larger settlement from the Late Stone Age; near Kongshus there is also a burial ground and the remains of the Kongshus skanse ramparts. Nearby, you can also find rock art and the Årøya kirkested church site. This gives you several distinct historical themes to explore: early settlement, fortification, burial, and church history. If you are looking for a hotel for a trip to Kongshus, this local history offers a specific focus for your planning.

Stone Age settlement and rock art

The larger settlement from the Late Stone Age above Kongshus was over 6,000 years old. It is located on a flat terrace with a beautiful view of the mainland. Thick layers of red ochre were found during the excavation. The age, location, and excavation findings offer different ways to explore this site: the settlement points to a history of habitation stretching far back in time, the terrace describes its location above the village, and the ochre is a specific archaeological find. A new rock art figure was discovered on Årøya in 2017. Newly documented rock art figures are located 50 meters from the Stone Age settlement above Kongshus. This distance makes the spatial relationship between the two archaeological themes concrete.

Fortification and burial ground

The Kongshus skanse on Årøya was built around 1611 during the Kalmar War. Its rampart remains were formally protected as a heritage site in 1990. There is also a field of five pre-Reformation graves near Kongshus on Årøya. The time periods differ: the fortification dates to the Kalmar War, while the burial ground is characterized by its pre-Reformation period. Together with the Stone Age settlement, these sites represent different historical themes. If you are interested in the history of Kongshus, you can explore early settlement, fortification, and burial as distinct topics.

Local orientation and travel planning

Kongshus has a combined boat landing. Årøya kirkested, the site of the first church building at the Altafjord, is nearby. It was built in 1694; the church was moved to Talvik in 1705. The church site can only be reached by express boat or ferry. Check the schedules before traveling so you can take this option into account when planning. This makes it clear how the locations relate to each other: the boat landing is in Kongshus, while the access restrictions apply to Årøya kirkested.

Cultural themes in the wider Alta destination

In the wider Alta destination, the Alta Museum and Hjemmeluft offer their own distinct areas of focus. The Alta Museum’s permanent exhibitions cover the rock art of Alta, pre-Christian Sámi religion, the Northern Lights, and sport fishing on the Alta River. In summer, the museum offers Stone Age activities for all ages, including archery, stone polishing, and making rubbings of rock carvings.

Hjemmeluft is the largest of Alta’s World Heritage sites. There are more than 3,000 rock carvings on the rock surfaces on both sides of the bay; a 3 km-long trail system connects the various sites. This comparison can help you choose your focus: in Kongshus, the settlement, the skanse, and the burial ground are central, while the museum and the rock carvings at Hjemmeluft offer further cultural themes in the wider Alta area.

Discover more destinations: Talvik, Alta, Kviby, Hakkstabben, Korsfjorden, Alta, Komagfjord.

Go to the overview of the wider destination: Alta.