Kongshus: Stone Age Traces and History on Årøya

Kongshus on Årøya brings together prehistoric traces and the history of a fortification dating from the Kalmar War. Above the village lies a Stone Age settlement, and near Kongshus there is a field with five pre-Reformation graves. There is also rock art on Årøya and the nearby church site, Årøya kirkested. This gives you a choice of different historical themes when planning your holiday—from early settlement to the history of the church.

Stone Age Settlement and Rock Art

The larger settlement from the Late Stone Age lay above the village of Kongshus and was more than 6,000 years old. Thick layers of red ochre were found during its excavation. Together with the burial ground near Kongshus, these traces are among the prehistoric and early historical features that shape the area. The burial ground contains five pre-Reformation graves; the settlement represents a much earlier period. If you are interested in archaeology, you can therefore take different periods into account when planning your trip, rather than focusing on a single historical site.

Rock art is also part of Årøya’s historical picture. The newly documented rock art figures are 50 metres from the Stone Age settlement above Kongshus. A new rock art figure was discovered on Årøya in 2017. The settlement, burial ground and rock art offer different points of interest for travellers who would like to explore the island’s past. The settlement’s age and the specific finds from its excavation give this interest a distinct archaeological focus.

Fortification and Church Site

Another chapter of history begins during the Kalmar War: the Kongshus skanse on Årøya was built around 1611. Its ramparts were formally protected as a monument in 1990. The construction date and the designation as a protected monument refer to different aspects of the fortification: the first places its construction in time, while the second concerns the protection of the ramparts. The Stone Age traces and a structure from the time of the Kalmar War thus represent widely separated historical periods.

The Årøya kirkested is nearby. The church site was the location of the first church building on the Altafjord; this building was constructed in 1694. In 1705, the church was moved to Talvik. Årøya kirkested is accessible only by express boat or ferry. If you would like to include the church site as a destination, this travel requirement is an important part of your planning. Kongshus itself also has a combined boat landing.

Landscape and Choosing Accommodation

The Stone Age settlement above Kongshus is on a flat terrace with a beautiful view of the mainland. This aspect of the landscape adds a tangible sense of the settlement’s location to the historical themes. If you are travelling with children, you can consider in advance whether to focus on prehistoric settlement traces and rock art, or on the fortification and the history of the church site. The different themes can help you decide what you would like to focus on during your stay, without treating the sites as a single destination.

When looking for holiday accommodation in Kongshus, it is worth deciding on this focus early. Would you mainly like to explore the sites near Kongshus, or include Årøya kirkested as well? The latter is accessible only by express boat or ferry. This means of access differs from the combined boat landing in Kongshus and should be taken into account when planning your stay.

More local pages: Talvik, Korsfjorden, Komagfjord, Alta, Kviby, Hakkstabben and Alta.

For the broader travel overview: Alta.