They analyze rock art of Bronze Age boats in Iberia and Scandinavia

In Durham, England, a team of researchers led by Marta Díaz-Guardamino from Durham University made progress in the study of rock engravings depicting Bronze Age boats. They created three-dimensional models of these images found at a dozen sites in northwestern Spain and Portugal.

The specialists compared these findings with other similar engravings discovered in Scandinavia. One key aspect is that all the Iberian motifs were carved in locations where water could be seen in the landscape, suggesting a strong connection to the maritime environment.

The designs share distinctive characteristics between both regions. Among them are decorative birds, S-shaped forms, rigging, oars, silhouettes resembling sails, and solar crosses that recall representations from Norse solar mythology.

Thanks to this comparison, the team was able to date the Iberian engravings between 1300 and 800 BC.

Connections Across the Sea

It is not certain whether these artists were local sailors or travelers who came from other areas. However, the study indicates that during the Bronze Age, creators shared technologies and ideas through long-distance maritime networks.

This evidence reinforces the notion that the sea was not just a barrier, but a bridge connecting distant cultures. The 3D models allowed for detailed analysis that was previously difficult to achieve with traditional methods.

The researchers emphasized that the similarities in motifs are not coincidental. The navigation techniques and shared symbols point to deep cultural exchanges in prehistoric Europe.

The work is based on an interdisciplinary approach that combines archaeology, digital technology, and regional comparisons. They published their findings in the journal PLOS One, detailing the modeling and analysis process.

These rock engravings not only represent boats but capture a moment when navigation was becoming increasingly important for trade and the dissemination of knowledge. In the Iberian northwest, proximity to the Atlantic Ocean facilitated these contacts.

Implications for European Prehistory

The presence of elements such as solar crosses directly links these representations to Norse mythological beliefs. This raises new questions about how religious and technological ideas were transmitted in antiquity.

The study contributes to a better understanding of human mobility in the Bronze Age. Far from being isolated societies, coastal communities maintained ties that spanned hundreds of kilometers by sea.

3D models like those used here are becoming a fundamental tool for modern archaeology. They allow for the preservation and study of details that the passage of time and natural erosion threaten to erase.