Up-close look at ancient Lapland life at Alta Museum, Norway

I stopped by the Alta Museum in the far northern town of Alta, Norway. The museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, features the amazing 7,000-year-old rock carvings of the Hjemmeluft area, outside in the cold sun along the gentle waters of the Altafjord. Some were painted red in the 1970s when the carvings were first discovered, but many remain unpainted, as they were when new, thousands of years ago. The images depict boats, people, hunts, and lots and lots of reindeer.
Inside the Alta Museum are dozens of well-done displays showing the history of the area and its people, both ancient and modern. Of particular interest to me were the displays about early Aurora research, and about the Geodetic Arc, a multi-country project which measured the Earth in the 1800s.
This museum is very far out of the way for most travelers, but I was glad I got to see it and experience the remarkable trip back through time, for insight into a very special (and sturdy!) group of people.
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[@T1DWanderer]

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[@jonriley8342]

Thank you, very interesting videos, I’ve watched a few of your Norwegian ones. Brilliant work

[@T1DWanderer]

Thanks Jon!!

[@viviennewest1867]

Always enjoying your videos, giving our the history part of the world that we would have never seen.

[@T1DWanderer]

Thanks Vivienne. Lots of unknown corners in the world!

[@Barley150]

About a hundred years ago I met you in a small town in Montana, where you got off the train (!) and stayed the night, got back on the train next day, and I thought that was the way to travel. Now you're showing us even stranger country. You mentioned the Sami -- who are or were they?

[@T1DWanderer]

It's been quite an adventure so far, huh! Sorry for not explaining more: the Sami are people who have lived in northern Scandinavia for thousands of years. They're distinct from the "Nordic" people of Scandinavia. Their lives have traditionally revolved around reindeer, and they follow their herds around northern Norway, Sweden, and Finland. There's a bit more info about them in an upcoming video; we stayed with a Sami couple near the town of Kjøllefjord and chatted with them

[@CathyS_Bx]

@@T1DWanderer Laplanders? There is a Lapland poem beginning: "Kulnasatz, my reindeer, we have a long way to go . . ." It's my mantra whenever I embark on a long train ride, or something!

[@T1DWanderer]

Here's to Kulnasatz!

[@PrimeTimeTravelers]

Another great vlog. This trip has been amazing. This museum is very well done!

[@T1DWanderer]

Thanks again! Yeah this trip was unlike any other I've ever had. Every day was some new crazy thing

[@rhyacinthlevrini6577]

Great video! The Sami culture is of major interest to me, and why I want to return to Troms. There is a rock wall with the 6000 year old carvings of the indigenous people on Kvaløya just outside Tromsø. And, there is a Sami reindeer camp just a 20 min bus ride from Tromsø. I´m anxious to get back, and your videos are inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

[@T1DWanderer]

Thanks! Glad you're inspired 👍

[@monicapileggi5239]

Friends and I will be on a cruise and docked in Alta on August 11, 2023. Is there local transportation to the Alta museum?

[@T1DWanderer]

Sorry, I don't know. Anyone?

[@Mishaye]

I believe it's within the city bus zone, so you can use that to travel to it. Google Snelandia and you should be able to find a time table or router planner. Otherwise, there's also Alta Taxi.