PERMANENT EXHIBITIONS

The exhibitions cover a wide range of themes and a very long period of time. The exhibitions are divided into 6 sections: 1) The Stone Age and Early Metal Age in Finnmark, 2) From Rock Art to Christianity, 3) Treasure and Market, 4) Resources and Industries, 5) Northern Lighs, 6) War and Peace in Finnmark.

 
The Stone Age and Early Metal Age in Finnmark

The exhibition covers the period from the pioneer settlement 11 000 years ago to the birth of Christ. Through various themes, the exhibition gives an introduction to Finnmark’s prehistory, which has been studied by researchers ever since the geologist and archaeologist Anders Nummedal discovered the earliest settlements in this part of Norway in 1925. This pioneer settlement in the Early Stone Age, was previously known as the Komsa culture, named after the little mountain in Alta where Mr. Nummedal made his first finds. Throughout the Stone Age and Early Metal Age, people lived off the ample resources in the area. They were hunters and fishers. The first immigrants lived on the coast, but people gradually also settled in the interior. In the large rock art areas in Alta, groups from coast and inland met to practice religious rites and beliefs.
 
 
The Rock Carvings in Kåfjord

Kåfjord is one of the largest rock art panels in Alta, depicting ca. 1500 carvings. The carvings are very detailed and varied containing scenes that are clearly connected. The rock carvings were probably part of myths and stories. Among other figures there are a lot of bears, dens and bear tracks in Kåfjord. Most likely the bear had a special significance in belief and rituals. There are also other characteristic scenes and carvings in Kåfjord. The panel gives an exceptional picture of a complex and rich conception of the world. The Kåfjord panel is extremely cracked and parts of the surface disintegrated. Some of the carvings are about to disappear altogether. To preserve this exceptional panel for the future it is permanently covered. The panel is documented by use of different methods. Kåfjord is the first area in Alta that has been video scanned. The scan was carried out as part of the RANE-project (Rock Art in Northern Europe).

 
From Rock Art to Christianity

 

The rock carvings in Alta indicate that Alta was a religious meeting-place in the Late Stone Age (4200-1800 BC) and Early Metal Age (1800 BC-BC/AD). Various types of bear hunting scenes are rather common among the oldest rock carvings, telling us that the bear may have been viewed in a similar way 5-6000 years ago as in the pre-Christian Sámi religion. In the exhibition, visitors can hear a tale about Sámi bear hunting, as it was performed 2-300 years ago.

The gods of the pre-Christian Sámi religion are presented as they are depicted on the magic drum, “Runebommen”. The exhibition also shows how, in Sámi religion, nature was regarded as possessing a soul and being alive. Christianity was introduced in the Middle Ages, but did not make much impact except on the outermost coast until the 1500’s. Then the Norwegian pioneer settlement expanded from the coastal area to the inner fjords, e.g. the Alta fjord. The first church in Alta was built in 1694. Medieval art from the coastal churches and pictures from the 18th century Sámi Missionary Society are shown.
 
 
Treasure and Market

There has been a market place in Alta probably as far back as the 15th century. The market became official in 1836. It was held twice a year, in December and March, lasting 3 days at a time. It was one of the major markets for trading of Sámi reindeer products. The reconstructed market scene shows the December marked in 1906. The treasure hoards in the showcase and the maps on the wall show features of different types of trading between Alta and other parts of northern Europe.


Resources and industries 
 

In the 16-1700’s Alta’s rich natural resources and pleasant climate attracted immigrants from South Norway and from Finland. The exhibits dealing with recent history show salmon fishing in the AltaRiver, forestry and slate quarrying. Other important occupations have been fishing in the fjord, copper mining and agriculture. This part of the exhibition also presents the conflict concerning the hydroelectrical development of the AltaRiver (1973-82). This conflict was a turning point in the struggle for recognition of Sámi rights and nature conservation in Norway. A dam was, however, built and the power plant started to function in 1987.  
 

 
The Nature of Finnmark 

Slide show.
Photos/production: Lars H. Krempig and Per Arne Askeland.
Music: Johan Sara jr.
Duration: 16 min.
Shown on request.

Seiland National Park
Slide show.
Photo/production: Per Arne Askeland.
Music: Erik Brinkman.
Duration: 18 min.
Shown on request.


Northern Lights 
 
Alta was a centre for northern lights research in the 1800’s and beginning of the 1900’s. The first permanent northern lights observatory in the world was built on the mountain peak Haldde in Kåfjord, Alta, in 1899. The observatory was operated until 1926, when the institution was moved to Tromsø, where it is now part of the University of Tromsø.