Ancient Rock Carvings at Glösa

On Thursday, my class as well as the undergraduate class went on a field trip to see ancient rock carvings. The location was just outside of town, about 45 minutes drive at a place Glösa.

We learned about the indigenous people ofSweden, the Sumi and how they lived before technology arrived. Some of the demonstrators actually dressed up in traditional clothing made of elk skins.

There were hands on demonstrations with the weapons-- bow and arrow and spear. The spear really impress me because there was a twist to it: they had added a extension that was held in the hand and on the follow-through of the throw pushed the spear to add distance, speed and power.

We were shown different ways to start a fire-- and got an opportunity to try. I don't think any one who participated was able to create fire.

A food demonstration of salmon was also done. The whole fish (minus the head) was sliced in half and had pine needles and other herbs from the forest placed inside and then was wrapped in birch bark and placed in a hole dug in the ground. Around the fish were placed hot rocks from the fire. It was then covered with dirt and left for an hour to cook. In the end we were able to taste it...it tasted like...salmon...

It was a bitterly cold day. The entire day was spent outside or in a log cabin that was heated by a fire pit. This day made me realize that I need to search for some long-johns.