Editing Sotenäs Municipality (section)

==History==
[[Image:Sotenäs härad sigill.gif|thumb|left|[[Sotenäs Hundred]] insignia from 1746]]
[[Västra Götaland County]] has been inhabited for several thousands of years. The province, [[Bohuslän]], is among the internationally most known because of its pre-historical remains. The oldest remains in Sotenäs Municipality are from around 6000 BC. From the [[younger Stone Age]] are several burial monuments ([[dolmen]]s). From the [[Bronze Age]] and [[Iron Age]] are many [[rock carving]]s, which the province also otherwise is noted for (especially the northern [[Tanum Municipality]]).

The name Sotenäs is believed to have originated from around 1000 AD, when also the first steps from the historical [[Hundred (county division)|hundred]], [[Sotenäs Hundred]] (or ''Härad'' in [[Swedish language|Swedish]]), can be traced.

With the [[Christianization of Scandinavia|Christianization of Sweden]] several churches were erected, starting in the 11th century. The first ones were the churches in Askum and Tossene.

Later, in the 16th century, the industry became dominated by fishing of [[herring]]. It dominated the industry for centuries; herring was used in large amounts in [[Bohuslän]] - as a basic food but also in the making of oil, wax candles, etc.

In the 19th century the [[island]] Malmön was started as a [[quarry]]. (Note that "Malm" means "rock" in Swedish). The quarry was kept alive and was of industrial significance until the 1930s.

The [[coat of arms]] was granted in 1977 and depicts a [[halibut]]. It is built on the insignia for [[Sotenäs Hundred]] and has been used for centuries.