Cookie Consent by Cookie Consent by TermsFeed
 
Bradshaw Foundation Latest News
Bradshaw Foundation Latest News
Bradshaw Foundation Latest News
Bradshaw Foundation - Latest News
Petition to save Vingen petroglyphs in Norway
Tuesday 13 February 2024

Stop the building of a quarry in Bremanger, Norway

Norway Vingen petroglyphs Aksla quarry rock art carvings quarry shipping port Frøysjøen cultural heritage in Frøysjøen
Vingen holds significance not only due to its over 6000-year-old rock art but also because of its location within the environment of Frøysjøen. Here, one can witness fjord landscapes akin to those observed by the rock art producers in the Mesolithic. This area is now in danger of irreversibly harmful activity due to industrial quarry activity, noise pollution, stone transportation, light pollution, and, notably, dust pollution, and associated industrial activity. Image: Arve Kjersheim.

On February 5th the decision regarding the quarry and shipping port in Frøysjøen was announced. The establishment of a quarry and the associated industrial activities in this region will have profound negative implications for cultural heritage in Frøysjøen, particularly affecting the rock art site Vingen — one of the most authentic rock art areas in Europe.

Vingen holds significance not only due to its over 6000-year-old rock art but also because of its location within the environment of Frøysjøen. Here, one can witness fjord landscapes akin to those observed by the rock art producers in the Mesolithic. This area is now in danger of irreversibly harmful activity due to industrial quarry activity, noise pollution, stone transportation, light pollution, and, notably, dust pollution, and associated industrial activity. This landscape will forever be destroyed and turned into industrial ground.

Despite opposition from the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage (Riksantikvaren), the County Governor (Statsforvalteren), and the Ministry of Climate and Environment, the decision has been made. Numerous contributions and complaints have been submitted, addressing concerns about cultural heritage and various endangered species in the boreonemoral rainforest within the fjord landscape. All public consultation bodies have rejected the quarry project. Public authorities have invested hundreds of millions in the preservation, conservation, and research of the rock art in the Vingen area. Nevertheless, the decision has been enacted. The company set to operate the quarry, Beheersmij Fr. Bontrup BD, is a Dutch entity intending to extract 360 million tons of stone, with plans for increased activity in the area. The extracted stone is designated for road construction and offshore products.

Why do Norwegian authorities prioritize the economic profit of a Dutch company over the preservation of invaluable nature and cultural heritage?

Bremanger municipality has long held a political resolution to promote the Vingen rock area for nomination to UNESCO's World Heritage List for cultural and natural heritage. Paradoxically, the same municipality is now advocating for the destruction of the very area it seeks global protection for. This situation underscores the prioritization of economic gain over both natural and cultural heritage. It necessitates broader public awareness and engagement.

Sign this petition, disseminate knowledge about the threat to cultural heritage and the environment, and encourage collective efforts to halt the quarry project:

Click here for the signature campaign

Comment
Rock Art
Petition to save Vingen petroglyphs in Norway
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
Norway's Vingen petroglyphs at risk
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
BRAG 2024 in Scotland
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 01 February 2024
Cave Painting
Capturing the art of Cosquer
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 30 May 2022
Hand Stencils in Chhattisgarh
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 19 January 2022
New U-series dating of rock art in China
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 06 January 2022
Paleoanthropology
Lee Berger named NGS Explorer in Residence
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 21 March 2023
New study on Neanderthal hunting and butchery
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 07 February 2023
Denisovan connection in Laos
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 19 May 2022
Archaeology
Palaeolithic dwelling found in La Garma cave
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 04 December 2023
New publication: Cave of Bones
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 30 June 2023
Circles of Stone
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 06 April 2023
Anthropology
Early Women Were Hunters
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 14 July 2023
BBC's Nature and Us
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 22 November 2021
South Pacific Islanders used obsidian for tattoos
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 12 July 2016
World Heritage
Burrup Peninsula in World Heritage delays
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 27 November 2023
Fire damage on Rapa Nui
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 07 October 2022
Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 05 November 2021
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation
on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation on social media for news & updates
Follow the Bradshaw Foundation
on social media for news & updates
If you have enjoyed visiting this website
please consider adding a link © Bradshaw Foundation
 
 
ROCK ART NETWORK
Rock Art Network Bradshaw Foundation Getty Conservation Institute
ROCK ART
Petition to save Vingen petroglyphs in Norway
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
Norway's Vingen petroglyphs at risk
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 13 February 2024
BRAG 2024 in Scotland
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 01 February 2024
CAVE PAINTINGS
Capturing the art of Cosquer
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 30 May 2022
Hand Stencils in Chhattisgarh
by Bradshaw Foundation
Wednesday 19 January 2022
New U-series dating of rock art in China
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 06 January 2022
PALEOANTHROPOLOGY
ARCHAEOLOGY
Palaeolithic dwelling found in La Garma cave
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 04 December 2023
New publication: Cave of Bones
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 30 June 2023
Circles of Stone
by Bradshaw Foundation
Thursday 06 April 2023
ANTHROPOLOGY
Early Women Were Hunters
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 14 July 2023
BBC's Nature and Us
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 22 November 2021
South Pacific Islanders used obsidian for tattoos
by Bradshaw Foundation
Tuesday 12 July 2016
WORLD HERITAGE
Burrup Peninsula in World Heritage delays
by Bradshaw Foundation
Monday 27 November 2023
Fire damage on Rapa Nui
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 07 October 2022
Songlines: Tracking the Seven Sisters
by Bradshaw Foundation
Friday 05 November 2021
BOOK REVIEWS
Bradshaw Foundation Donate Friends
Support our work & become a
Friend of the Foundation
 
 
 
Bradshaw Foundation YouTube
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store
Bradshaw Foundation iShop Shop Store