Rock art in Sweden
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The Rock art in Sweden (Swedish: Hällbilder or Hällmålningar) is the richest artistic material from the north of prehistoric Europe. Older scholarship mostly saw it as evidence for the religious practices of the Nordic Bronze Age (c. 1500-500 BC). Newer research sees the art not only as depictions of cultic rituals but also as source material for cultural history and social hierarchies. The production of rock art required significant effort, so they must have had important meaning for their creators. Regional variations show that local populations, not travelling artists, were responsible for them.