Ulmekärr: Rocky landscape and archaeological traces

Ulmekärr is characterized by a varied landscape and archaeological and cultural-historical traces. The village is strategically located at an older road junction. These themes can provide an initial guide as you plan your trip: you can weigh whether landforms or historical remains should play a greater role in your choice of destination. The local features range from rock and heather to a stone-paved labyrinth and a quarry site.

Rocky outcrops, wooded hollows and meadows

The area consists mainly of high-lying rocky terrain with exposed bedrock. Several hollows, both large and small, run through it. Sparse low-growing trees and heather grow on the higher rocky ground; the lower hollows are densely forested. There are also lower-lying areas in the southeast and the westernmost part, where there is arable land and meadowland.

The differences concern both elevation and vegetation: rock and low-growing vegetation characterize the higher ground, while the hollows are densely forested. Arable land and meadows add to this landscape in the lower-lying areas mentioned. If you are considering Ulmekärr as a destination, this contrast provides a more specific guide than a general description of it as a rocky landscape alone.

Labyrinth and hillfort

There is a hillfort and a stone-paved labyrinth near Ulmekärr. The labyrinth is of unknown age and probably prehistoric. It is also regarded as the best-preserved labyrinth in Bohuslän. These statements address different questions: its dating remains tentative, while its state of preservation is highlighted in regional comparison. The labyrinth is located on the road to Havstenssund.

The hillfort and the paved labyrinth are different types of archaeological structures. This gives you more than one point of interest if you are interested in Ulmekärr’s historical traces. The labyrinth can be described by its paving, its tentative dating and comparison with other labyrinths; the hillfort is a separate feature of the area.

Rock carvings and industrial traces

The Tanum 1916 rock carving comprises three ships and several cup marks. The ships suggest a date in Period IV of the Bronze Age. The motifs and the tentative chronological dating are linked: the ships provide the basis for this dating, not certainty about each individual mark.

The Tanum 1917 site is on a rocky surface on a southwest-facing slope and includes at least two to three cup marks. By comparison, Tanum 1916 is characterized by its three ships and the period inferred from them, while the cup marks and the location on the slope are important features of Tanum 1917. The two sites can thus be distinguished by their different recorded features.

The small-scale industrial area KUL No. 1701:18 includes a small large-quarry site (Tanum 1957) with spoil heaps and traces of cranes and paths. The small-scale industrial area KUL No. 18 has significant educational and cultural-historical value. The stone setting KUL No. 9 near Ulmekärr is classified as an archaeological monument. These details complement the rock carvings and hillfort with industrial and other archaeological evidence.

Find a hotel for your trip

If you are considering Ulmekärr as a destination, the landscape and its various historical traces can help you get a sense of the place. The landscape or cultural themes that matter most to you can serve as a helpful basis for choosing your destination and accommodation.

For the broader travel overview: Grebbestad.