Editing History of Sweden (section)

== Prehistoric Sweden before AD 800 ==
{{main|Prehistoric Sweden}}
{{Scandinavia|History}}

[[Sweden]] has a large number of [[petroglyph]]s (''hällristningar''<ref>Nordström, Patrik. "Arkeologiska undersökningar invid hällristningar. Analys av 16 utgrävningar invid hällristningar i Sverige och Norge." (1995) STARC</ref> in Swedish), with the highest concentration in the province of [[Bohuslän]] and the northern part of the county of [[Kalmar County|Kalmar]], also called "[[Tjust]]".<ref>{{cite report |last= Petersson |first= Magnus |editor1-last= Lekberg |editor1-first= Per |editor2-last= Nyberg |editor2-first= Seija |title= Hällristningar vid Smålandskusten |url= https://www.kalmarlansmuseum.se/site/assets/files/12212/hallristningar.pdf |publisher= Kalmar County Museum |issn= 1400-352X |access-date= 4 May 2020 |archive-date= 8 May 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210508171209/https://www.kalmarlansmuseum.se/site/assets/files/12212/hallristningar.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> The earliest images can be found in the province of [[Jämtland]], dating from 5000 BC.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://offerdal.se/pages/se_gora/hallristningar.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100712090540/http://www.offerdal.se/pages/se_gora/hallristningar.html|url-status=dead|title=Hällristningarna i Gärde|archivedate=12 July 2010}}</ref> They depict wild animals such as elk, reindeer, bears and seals.{{Citation needed|date=March 2007}} 2300–500 BC was the most intensive carving period{{Citation needed|date=June 2011}}, with carvings of agriculture, warfare, ships, domesticated animals, etc.{{Citation needed|date=March 2007}} Petroglyphs with themes have also been found in [[Bohuslän]], dating from 800 to 500 BC.<ref>{{Cite web |author1=Owen Jarus |date=29 May 2023 |title=2,700-year-old petroglyphs depicting people, ships and animals discovered in Sweden |url=https://www.livescience.com/archaeology/2700-year-old-petroglyphs-depicting-people-ships-and-animals-discovered-in-sweden |access-date=7 July 2023 |website=livescience.com |language=en}}</ref>