Stangelandshelleren is a large and monumental rock shelter, approx. 17.5 m long and 5 m wide and up to 3.5 m high. During the period 1906-1909, excavations were made here, and an impressive amount of flint and bone objects, shells and ceramics were found. The objects show that the shelter has been in use from the end of the Old Stone Age until the Late Iron Age (6,400 BC to 570 AD). Other periods of use are not reflected in the present discovery material, but experience has shown that this type of settlement can often have been in use right into historical times.
Stone Age settlement
Stangelandshelleren rock shelter was excavated parallel to Vistehola and is compared with this site, described as one of the most important and interesting settlements from the Stone Age at Jæren. There is little doubt that this statement is correct, taking into account the rich flint and bone material, and the favourable location close to Figgjoelven. Unfortunately, there are no drawings or sketches from the surveys that were carried out at the beginning of the 20th century, the documentation consists of only a few descriptions. 1)
Some archaeological investigations were carried out in the rock shelter in August 2020. There are two smaller areas that were excavated together with some test routes. The last time investigations were made in the shelter was in 1906 - 1909. At that time, a number of finds of bone tools and several bone remains were made. The most special findings are bones from a bull that document the oldest domestic animal in Norway. The bull is dated to the middle of the Neolithic, i.e. far back to the period between 3 340-2 890 BC. Shells of oysters, mussels and snails have also been found. 2)
- 1) Source: Norark Norsk arkeologi, The article Stangelandshelleren et unikt kulturminne.
- 2) Source: Norark Norsk arkeologi, The article Knip meg i armen.