This latest volume in the Swedish Rock Art series bridges the gap between analysis and interpretation of rock art imagery, location and chronology in the northern and southern regions of Scandinavia. Long viewed as belonging to distinctive regional traditions, there are many underlying similarities, themes and formats in common, overlain by regional complexities and variations. The authors explore new approaches and methods of analysis. There has been a tendency in rock art research to focus merely on either the Northern Tradition or the Southern Tradition of Scandinavian rock art and there is certainly a need to broaden this discussion. Thus, the aim of this collection of new research papers is to stimulate different perspectives and themes that place emphasise on the intersection between these traditions. North meets South puts the focus on Scandinavian rock art regardless of regions and traditions. Even though there are obvious differences in space and time regarding these two traditions, there are also features and formats in common across both time and space, and a significant theme running thourgh the contributions presented here is to highlight the interaction between these rock art traditions. A major conclusion to be drawn from this exercise is the great complexity and variation of rock art and the need for perspectives comparing various regions across Scandinavia. This volume is the outcome of an international symposium organised by the Swedish Rock Art Research Archives (SHFA).

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Swedish Rock Art Series
• Contents
• List of contributors
• Introduction
• 1. The Meaning and Use(-Fulness) of Traditions in Scandinavian Rock Art Research – Trond Klungseth Lødøen
• 2. Where Styles Meet – What Does it Mean? – Heidrun Stebergløkken
• 3. Taking the Stranger on Board – The Two Maritime Legacies of Bronze Age Rock Art – Lene Melheim and Johan Ling
• 4. Nämforsen – A Northern Rock Art Metropolis with Southern Pretences – Ulf Bertilsson
• 5. A Boat Journey in Rock Art ‘from the Bronze Age to the Stone Age – from the Stone Age to the Bronze Age’ in Northernmost Europe – Jan Magne Gjerde
• 6. The Circumpolar Context of the ‘Sun Ship’ Motif in South Scandinavian Rock Art – Antti Lahelma
• 7. The Xenia Concept of Guest-friendship – Providing an Elucidatory Model for Bronze Age Communication – Flemming Kaul
• 8. Axes and Long-distance Trade – Scania and Wessex in the Early Second Millennium BC – Peter Skoglund