Austre Åmøy: Rock Carvings and Chapel

For a trip to Austre Åmøy, the rock carvings are the main cultural and historical attraction: they date from the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age. The chapel and the connection via Sokn add architectural history and transport links to the picture. When looking for hotels for a trip to Austre Åmøy, you can consider whether the rock carvings are your main focus or whether you would like to include other cultural sites in the wider destination of Stavanger.

Rock carvings and their motifs

The rock carvings of Austre Åmøy include up to about 1,000 figures over a stretch of approximately 1 km, distributed across 10 fields. The motifs include ships, sun symbols, and human figures. The largest concentrations in Rogaland are located at the Meling farm on Austre Åmøy. They date from the Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. The motifs and dating offer two perspectives on the same rock art: what is depicted and which period the carvings are from.

Visitor guidance and protection

The largest rock-carving fields at the Meling farm on Austre Åmøy have been prepared and signposted for public access. Smaller fields have not been prepared for visitors. The entire area of the rock carvings of Austre Åmøy is protected under Norway’s Cultural Heritage Act. Visitors should not walk on the rock surfaces with carved figures and should leave the figures and their surroundings undisturbed. Plan your visit around the largest fields that have been prepared and signposted, and follow the protection requirements for the area.

Transport links and architectural history

Austre Åmøy is connected to the neighboring island of Sokn by a bridge. From there, a tunnel connection runs beneath Bru and through the Byfjord to the mainland at Randaberg and the Rennfast section of the E39. These named places provide a geographical context for the connection to the mainland.

The Austre Åmøy Chapel was built in 1904 to a design by Jæger and restored in 1978. Its construction and subsequent restoration are two distinct stages in its architectural history. Alongside the prehistoric rock art, visitors can also explore the history of a specific building and its chronology.

More cultural topics in the wider destination of Stavanger

In the wider destination of Stavanger, other periods and forms add to the cultural picture. Stavanger Cathedral is the only medieval cathedral to have preserved its original architecture; services have been held there since 1125. The Iron Age Farm at Ullandhaug in Stavanger is a reconstructed farmstead from the Migration Period (350–550 AD). These topics differ from the rock carvings on Austre Åmøy: they include a medieval cathedral and a reconstructed farmstead from the Migration Period. Museum Stavanger – MUST comprises eight museums in Stavanger.

Discover more destinations: Stavanger

Return to the main travel overview: Stavanger.