Bohuslän
Encyclopedia
is a Swedish traditional province
, or landskap, situated in Götaland
on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland
to the northeast, Västergötland
to the southeast, the Skagerrak
arm of the North Sea
to the west, and the county of Østfold
in Norway
to the north. In Norwegian
the province is known as Båhuslen.
Bohuslän is named after the Norwegian medieval fortress of Båhus. Båhuslen was a norwegian province from around 1050 until the Treaty of Roskilde
in 1658, which also saw the transfer of Skåneland
(Blekinge, Halland, and Scania) from Denmark
to Sweden.
serve no administrative function. Instead, that function is served by the counties of Sweden
. For centuries, the administrative county for Bohuslän was the Gothenburg and Bohus County
, and as its name implies it consisted of the entire Bohuslän province together with the city Gothenburg
. In 1999, some Swedish counties were merged to reduce administration costs– and Gothenburg and Bohus County was merged into the much larger Västra Götaland County
.
in 1660, it was identical to the arms of the Town of Kungälv
. In 1962 the higher claim of the town was established and a variation for the arms of the county was introduced. The coat of arms is surmounted by a ducal coronet. Blazon: "Argent, a Castle embattled Gules with one embattled Tower of the same and two doors Or hinged Sable between a Sword point upwards and Lion rampant holding the Tower both Azure langued and armed Or."
The geography is distinguished by the rocky coast, bordering an archipelago
: there are about 3,000 islands and 5,000 islets (skerries
). These make up the northern part of the Gothenburg archipelago, Sweden's second largest after Stockholm archipelago
. In old days, the seascape was renowned for its many reefs and sunken rocks which caused many shipwrecks. The largest of the islands, Orust
and Tjörn
, constitute their own municipalities. Both islands have a distinctive culture and history. However, the rocky terrain cannot be said to be mountainous: the highest point is Björnepiken at 224 meters.
Sweden's only fjord
, Gullmaren, is located near Lysekil
. It is 25 kilometers long, between 1-3 wide, with a depth of 118.5 meters at its deepest, with a unique marine life.
Unlike other parts of Sweden, there are relatively few lakes or streams in Bohuslän: out of a total land area of 4,500 km² only 177 km² is freshwater. Although lakes are common, they tend to be small in size. The largest lakes are the northern and southern Bullaren
lakes, with a combined area of about 40 km².
of 65.3 inhabitants/square kilometer.
They are now non-administrative urban areas.
In addition there are several other notable settlements:
During the 2nd millennium BC
, the Nordic Bronze Age
began (c. 1700-500 BC), including rock art
such as the examples found throughout Bohuslän. During the Migration Period
(300 to 700 CE) and the Viking Age
(700-1000 CE), the area was part of Viken
, and was actually known as two entities: Ranrike
in the north and Elfsyssel in the south. It has been claimed that King Harald Fairhair made it part of the unified Norway in about 872, but contemporary sources give rise to doubt that Harald actually ever held the Viken area properly. The earliest proof of Båhus lands being in Norway's hands is from 11th century.
As long as Norway was a kingdom of its own, the province prospered, and Båhus castle was one of the key fortresses of the kingdom. When Norway was united with Denmark
, the province began its decline in wealth; the area was frequently attacked by Swedish forces as part of the larger border skirmishes. The Norwegian fortress, Båhus
, was built to protect this territory. Being a border zone towards the Swedish kingdom, and to a lesser extent against Danish lands in Halland, the Båhus region was disproportionately populated by soldier families.
Båhuslen belonged to Denmark
/Norway
until it was ceded to Sweden in the Treaty of Roskilde
in 1658. This fact explains why the treaty was signed in Denmark. The fortress of Carlsten
was built in Marstrand during the 17th century. For a period Marstrand was also a free port
(porto franco), with a free religious practice and, as such, home to the only synagogue
in Sweden at the time.
The commercial fishing of herring
increased in the 18th century, and the province flourished during a major herring period around 1747–1809. Many small fishing communities grew up around the coast.
Before the large scale fishing of herring started, Bohuslän had a considerable forest cover. Timber was once the largest export product and main source of income in Bohuslän. But with the increased importance of fishing, more wood was needed as construction material for houses and boats, and as fuel for herring oil boilers (trankokerier). Deforestation during the 19'th century gave rise to today's rugged, rocky landscape.
dialect of Swedish
is spoken. The province was a part of Denmark/Norway until 1658 as mentioned above. That year a peace treaty was signed in Roskilde in Denmark. Still today traces of Norwegian remain in the dialect. "Bohuslän", literally means the "Fief of Bohus", referring to Bohus Fortress
and Län
.
The Nordic Bronze Age
(c. 1700-500) BC) produced rock art
showing scenes from the daily life and religious rituals, such as the examples found in Bohuslän. The rock art
at Tanum
, possibly made earlier, c. 2,500 to 3,000 years ago, have been entered as a site in the UNESCO
World heritage program. Rock carvings can be found scattered throughout Bohuslän. The carvings portray the life of an agricultural society with images of daily life, with human figures, religious rituals, ships, circular objects, soles, animals, and fertility figures (E.g. phallus
es); and the creation of shallow bowls.
.
Provinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
, or landskap, situated in Götaland
Götaland
Götaland , Gothia, Gothland, Gothenland, Gautland or Geatland is one of three lands of Sweden and comprises provinces...
on the northernmost part of the country's west coast. It is bordered by Dalsland
Dalsland
Dalsland is a Swedish traditional province, or landskap, situated in Götaland in southern Sweden. Lying to the west of Lake Vänern, it is bordered by Värmland to the north, Västergötland to the southeast, Bohuslän to the west, and Norway to the northwest....
to the northeast, Västergötland
Västergötland
', English exonym: West Gothland, is one of the 25 traditional non-administrative provinces of Sweden , situated in the southwest of Sweden. In older English literature one may also encounter the Latinized version Westrogothia....
to the southeast, the Skagerrak
Skagerrak
The Skagerrak is a strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark, connecting the North Sea and the Kattegat sea area, which leads to the Baltic Sea.-Name:...
arm of the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
to the west, and the county of Østfold
Østfold
is a county in southeastern Norway, bordering Akershus and southwestern Sweden , while Buskerud and Vestfold is on the other side of the bay. The seat of the county administration is Sarpsborg, and Fredrikstad is the largest city.Many manufacturing facilities are situated here. Moss and...
in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
to the north. In Norwegian
Norwegian language
Norwegian is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is the official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variants .These Scandinavian languages together with the Faroese language...
the province is known as Båhuslen.
Bohuslän is named after the Norwegian medieval fortress of Båhus. Båhuslen was a norwegian province from around 1050 until the Treaty of Roskilde
Treaty of Roskilde
The Treaty of Roskilde was concluded on 26 February or 8 March 1658 during the Second Northern War between Frederick III of Denmark–Norway and Charles X Gustav of Sweden in the Danish city of Roskilde...
in 1658, which also saw the transfer of Skåneland
Skåneland
Skåneland or Skånelandene are terms used in historical contexts in Scandinavia to describe the area on the southern and south-western part of the Scandinavian peninsula, which under the Treaty of Roskilde was transferred from Denmark to Sweden. It corresponds to the provinces of Blekinge,...
(Blekinge, Halland, and Scania) from Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
to Sweden.
Administration
The provinces of SwedenProvinces of Sweden
The provinces of Sweden, landskap, are historical, geographical and cultural regions. Sweden has 25 provinces and they have no administrative function, but remain historical legacies and the means of cultural identification....
serve no administrative function. Instead, that function is served by the counties of Sweden
Counties of Sweden
The Counties of Sweden are the first level administrative and political subdivisions of Sweden. Sweden is divided into 21 counties. The counties were established in 1634 on Count Axel Oxenstierna's initiative, superseding the historical provinces of Sweden to introduce a modern administration...
. For centuries, the administrative county for Bohuslän was the Gothenburg and Bohus County
Gothenburg and Bohus County
The County of Gothenburg and Bohus, or Göteborgs och Bohus län, was a county of Sweden until December 31, 1998 when it was merged with the counties of Skaraborg and Älvsborg to form the county of Västra Götaland....
, and as its name implies it consisted of the entire Bohuslän province together with the city Gothenburg
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area...
. In 1999, some Swedish counties were merged to reduce administration costs– and Gothenburg and Bohus County was merged into the much larger Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County
Västra Götaland County is a county or län on the western coast of Sweden.The county is the second largest of Sweden's counties and it is subdivided into 49 municipalities . Its population of 1,550,000 amounts to 17% of Sweden's population...
.
Heraldry
Bohuslän was granted its arms at the time of the funeral for Charles X Gustav of SwedenCharles X Gustav of Sweden
Charles X Gustav also Carl Gustav, was King of Sweden from 1654 until his death. He was the son of John Casimir, Count Palatine of Zweibrücken-Kleeburg and Catherine of Sweden. After his father's death he also succeeded him as Pfalzgraf. He was married to Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein-Gottorp, who...
in 1660, it was identical to the arms of the Town of Kungälv
Kungälv
Kungälv is a city and the seat of Kungälv Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 21,139 inhabitants in 2005.-History:According to Swedish official sources the city was founded in 1612, when the former settlement at Kungahälla was moved to the Bohus Fortress...
. In 1962 the higher claim of the town was established and a variation for the arms of the county was introduced. The coat of arms is surmounted by a ducal coronet. Blazon: "Argent, a Castle embattled Gules with one embattled Tower of the same and two doors Or hinged Sable between a Sword point upwards and Lion rampant holding the Tower both Azure langued and armed Or."
Geography
Archipelago
An archipelago , sometimes called an island group, is a chain or cluster of islands. The word archipelago is derived from the Greek ἄρχι- – arkhi- and πέλαγος – pélagos through the Italian arcipelago...
: there are about 3,000 islands and 5,000 islets (skerries
Skerry
A skerry is a small rocky island, usually defined to be too small for habitation. It may simply be a rocky reef. A skerry can also be called a low sea stack....
). These make up the northern part of the Gothenburg archipelago, Sweden's second largest after Stockholm archipelago
Stockholm archipelago
The Stockholm archipelago is the largest archipelago of Sweden, and one of the largest archipelagos of the Baltic Sea.-Geography:The archipelago extends from Stockholm roughly 60 kilometers to the east...
. In old days, the seascape was renowned for its many reefs and sunken rocks which caused many shipwrecks. The largest of the islands, Orust
Orust
Orust is an island in western Sweden, and Sweden's third largest island. The largest town on Orust is Henån, where approximately 1,800 inhabitants live...
and Tjörn
Tjörn
Tjörn is the sixth largest island in Sweden. It is located on the Swedish West coast in the province of Bohuslän.-Geography:Tjörn is connected in the east to the town of Stenungsund on the mainland by the Tjörn bridge, and to the island of Orust in the north by theSkåpesund bridge. The largest town...
, constitute their own municipalities. Both islands have a distinctive culture and history. However, the rocky terrain cannot be said to be mountainous: the highest point is Björnepiken at 224 meters.
Sweden's only fjord
Fjord
Geologically, a fjord is a long, narrow inlet with steep sides or cliffs, created in a valley carved by glacial activity.-Formation:A fjord is formed when a glacier cuts a U-shaped valley by abrasion of the surrounding bedrock. Glacial melting is accompanied by rebound of Earth's crust as the ice...
, Gullmaren, is located near Lysekil
Lysekil
Lysekil is a locality and the seat of Lysekil Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 7,568 inhabitants in 2005.The picturesque coastal town of Lysekil is a major tourist destination during the Swedish summer period from June to the end of August.Lysekil is known as originator of the...
. It is 25 kilometers long, between 1-3 wide, with a depth of 118.5 meters at its deepest, with a unique marine life.
Unlike other parts of Sweden, there are relatively few lakes or streams in Bohuslän: out of a total land area of 4,500 km² only 177 km² is freshwater. Although lakes are common, they tend to be small in size. The largest lakes are the northern and southern Bullaren
Bullaren
Bullarebygden is the name of the area surrounding three connected lakes in Bohuslän in the southwestern part of Sweden. Another commonly used name for the same area is Bullaren. The landscape is a mixture of forests and meadows. Less than 2,000 people populate the rural area and by tradition...
lakes, with a combined area of about 40 km².
Population
As of December 31, 2009, the number of inhabitants was 287,223, giving a population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
of 65.3 inhabitants/square kilometer.
Islands of Bohuslän
|
Hälsö Hälsö is an island and a locality situated in Öckerö Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 614 inhabitants in 2005.... Hönö Hönö is a locality situated in Öckerö Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 5,045 inhabitants in 2005.... Kalvsund Kalvsund is a locality situated in Öckerö Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 228 inhabitants in 2005.... Koster -Places:* Koster, North West, a town in South Africa* Koster Site, an archeology site in Illinois* Koster and Bial's Music Hall, the US venue for first public showing of Vitascope movies* Koster Islands, two islands west of Sweden-Other:... Klädesholmen Klädesholmen is a locality situated in Tjörn Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 417 inhabitants in 2005.... Källö-Knippla Källö-Knippla is an island and a locality situated in Öckerö Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 420 inhabitants in 2005.... |
|
Larger settlements in Bohuslän
Bohuslän's formerly chartered cities are:- KungälvKungälvKungälv is a city and the seat of Kungälv Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 21,139 inhabitants in 2005.-History:According to Swedish official sources the city was founded in 1612, when the former settlement at Kungahälla was moved to the Bohus Fortress...
(approximately 1100) - LysekilLysekilLysekil is a locality and the seat of Lysekil Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 7,568 inhabitants in 2005.The picturesque coastal town of Lysekil is a major tourist destination during the Swedish summer period from June to the end of August.Lysekil is known as originator of the...
(1903) - MarstrandMarstrandMarstrand is a seaside locality situated in Kungälv Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 1,432 inhabitants in 2005. It has held city privileges since 1200. The most striking feature about Marstrand is the 17th century fortress Carlsten, named after King Carl X Gustav of Sweden. The...
(approximately 1200) - StrömstadStrömstadStrömstad is a locality and the seat of Strömstad Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 6,110 inhabitants in 2005.Strömstad is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city.- History :...
(1672) - UddevallaUddevallaUddevalla is a city and the seat of Uddevalla Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 30,513 inhabitants in 2005.It is located at the bay Byfjorden, of the south-eastern part of the sea known as Skagerrak...
(1498)
They are now non-administrative urban areas.
In addition there are several other notable settlements:
|
Kungshamn Kungshamn is a locality and the seat of Sotenäs Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 2,871 inhabitants in 2005.The town consists of the former towns of "Gravarne", "Bäckevik" and "Fisketången". Kungshamn is situated on a peninsula just north of the town Lysekil and on the same... Ljungskile Ljungskile is a locality situated in Uddevalla Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 3,351 inhabitants in 2005.... Munkedal Munkedal is a locality and the seat of Munkedal Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 3,704 inhabitants in 2005.- References :... Rabbalshede Rabbalshede is a locality situated in Tanum Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 260 inhabitants in 2005.... Rönnäng Rönnäng is a locality situated in Tjörn Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 1,474 inhabitants in 2005. It lies on the south peak of the island Tjörn in Sweden.- External links :* * *... Skärhamn thumb|right|300px|[[Nordic Watercolour Museum]]Skärhamn is a locality and the seat of Tjörn Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 3,180 inhabitants in 2005. The main tourist attraction in Skärhamn besides yachting is The Nordic Watercolour Museum .- External links :... Smögen Smögen is a locality situated in Sotenäs Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 1,437 inhabitants in 2005. It is one of the liveliest "summer towns" of the Swedish West Coast.... Stenungsund Stenungsund is a locality and the seat of Stenungsund Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 10,067 inhabitants in 2005.-Overview:Stenungsund was once only an idyllic bathing and vacation location on the Swedish west coast... Stora Höga Stora Höga is a locality situated in Stenungsund Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 2,553 inhabitants in 2005.Stora Höga is part of the Jörlanda parish in Stenungsund, and is situated between a railroad station originally known as Vallen. The Vallen railroad station later changed its... Tanumshede Tanumshede is a locality and the seat of Tanum Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 1,597 inhabitants in 2005.-Rock Carvings in Tanum:... Torslanda Torslanda is an urban district and a locality situated in Göteborg Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 10,129 inhabitants in 2005.-The Volvo Torslanda Plant:... Öckerö Öckerö is an island and a locality and the seat of Öckerö Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 3,269 inhabitants in 2005.- References :... |
History
2nd millennium BC
The 2nd millennium BC marks the transition from the Middle to the Late Bronze Age.Its first half is dominated by the Middle Kingdom of Egypt and Babylonia. The alphabet develops. Indo-Iranian migration onto the Iranian plateau and onto the Indian subcontinent propagates the use of the chariot...
, the Nordic Bronze Age
Nordic Bronze Age
The Nordic Bronze Age is the name given by Oscar Montelius to a period and a Bronze Age culture in Scandinavian pre-history, c. 1700-500 BC, with sites that reached as far east as Estonia. Succeeding the Late Neolithic culture, its ethnic and linguistic affinities are unknown in the absence of...
began (c. 1700-500 BC), including rock art
Rock art
Rock art is a term used in archaeology for any human-made markings made on natural stone. They can be divided into:*Petroglyphs - carvings into stone surfaces*Pictographs - rock and cave paintings...
such as the examples found throughout Bohuslän. During the Migration Period
Migration Period
The Migration Period, also called the Barbarian Invasions , was a period of intensified human migration in Europe that occurred from c. 400 to 800 CE. This period marked the transition from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages...
(300 to 700 CE) and the Viking Age
Viking Age
Viking Age is the term for the period in European history, especially Northern European and Scandinavian history, spanning the late 8th to 11th centuries. Scandinavian Vikings explored Europe by its oceans and rivers through trade and warfare. The Vikings also reached Iceland, Greenland,...
(700-1000 CE), the area was part of Viken
Viken
Viken was the historical name for the district in southeastern Norway, including the area surrounding the Oslofjord and Skagerrak, the strait running between Norway and the southwest coast of Sweden and the Jutland peninsula of Denmark.-History:...
, and was actually known as two entities: Ranrike
Ranrike
Ranrike was the old name for a part of Viken, corresponding to southeast Norway and the northern half of the modern Swedish province of Bohuslän...
in the north and Elfsyssel in the south. It has been claimed that King Harald Fairhair made it part of the unified Norway in about 872, but contemporary sources give rise to doubt that Harald actually ever held the Viken area properly. The earliest proof of Båhus lands being in Norway's hands is from 11th century.
As long as Norway was a kingdom of its own, the province prospered, and Båhus castle was one of the key fortresses of the kingdom. When Norway was united with Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, the province began its decline in wealth; the area was frequently attacked by Swedish forces as part of the larger border skirmishes. The Norwegian fortress, Båhus
Bohus Fortress
Bohus Fortress lies along the old Norwegian - Swedish border in Kungälv, Bohuslän, Sweden, north east from Hisingen where the Göta river splits into two branches...
, was built to protect this territory. Being a border zone towards the Swedish kingdom, and to a lesser extent against Danish lands in Halland, the Båhus region was disproportionately populated by soldier families.
Båhuslen belonged to Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
/Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
until it was ceded to Sweden in the Treaty of Roskilde
Treaty of Roskilde
The Treaty of Roskilde was concluded on 26 February or 8 March 1658 during the Second Northern War between Frederick III of Denmark–Norway and Charles X Gustav of Sweden in the Danish city of Roskilde...
in 1658. This fact explains why the treaty was signed in Denmark. The fortress of Carlsten
Carlsten
Carlsten is a stone fortress located at Marstrand, on the western coast of Sweden. The fortress was built on the orders of King Carl X of Sweden following the Treaty of Roskilde, 1658 to protect the newly acquired province of Bohuslän from hostile attacks....
was built in Marstrand during the 17th century. For a period Marstrand was also a free port
Free port
A free port or free zone , sometimes also called a bonded area is a port, port area or other area with relaxed jurisdiction with respect to the country of location...
(porto franco), with a free religious practice and, as such, home to the only synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Sweden at the time.
The commercial fishing of herring
Herring
Herring is an oily fish of the genus Clupea, found in the shallow, temperate waters of the North Pacific and the North Atlantic oceans, including the Baltic Sea. Three species of Clupea are recognized. The main taxa, the Atlantic herring and the Pacific herring may each be divided into subspecies...
increased in the 18th century, and the province flourished during a major herring period around 1747–1809. Many small fishing communities grew up around the coast.
Before the large scale fishing of herring started, Bohuslän had a considerable forest cover. Timber was once the largest export product and main source of income in Bohuslän. But with the increased importance of fishing, more wood was needed as construction material for houses and boats, and as fuel for herring oil boilers (trankokerier). Deforestation during the 19'th century gave rise to today's rugged, rocky landscape.
Culture
In Bohuslän a variety of the GötalandGötaland
Götaland , Gothia, Gothland, Gothenland, Gautland or Geatland is one of three lands of Sweden and comprises provinces...
dialect of Swedish
Swedish language
Swedish is a North Germanic language, spoken by approximately 10 million people, predominantly in Sweden and parts of Finland, especially along its coast and on the Åland islands. It is largely mutually intelligible with Norwegian and Danish...
is spoken. The province was a part of Denmark/Norway until 1658 as mentioned above. That year a peace treaty was signed in Roskilde in Denmark. Still today traces of Norwegian remain in the dialect. "Bohuslän", literally means the "Fief of Bohus", referring to Bohus Fortress
Bohus Fortress
Bohus Fortress lies along the old Norwegian - Swedish border in Kungälv, Bohuslän, Sweden, north east from Hisingen where the Göta river splits into two branches...
and Län
Län
Län and lääni refer to the administrative divisions used in Sweden and previously in Finland. The provinces of Finland were abolished on January 1, 2010....
.
The Nordic Bronze Age
Nordic Bronze Age
The Nordic Bronze Age is the name given by Oscar Montelius to a period and a Bronze Age culture in Scandinavian pre-history, c. 1700-500 BC, with sites that reached as far east as Estonia. Succeeding the Late Neolithic culture, its ethnic and linguistic affinities are unknown in the absence of...
(c. 1700-500) BC) produced rock art
Rock art
Rock art is a term used in archaeology for any human-made markings made on natural stone. They can be divided into:*Petroglyphs - carvings into stone surfaces*Pictographs - rock and cave paintings...
showing scenes from the daily life and religious rituals, such as the examples found in Bohuslän. The rock art
Rock art
Rock art is a term used in archaeology for any human-made markings made on natural stone. They can be divided into:*Petroglyphs - carvings into stone surfaces*Pictographs - rock and cave paintings...
at Tanum
Tanum Municipality
Tanum Municipality is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in western Sweden. Its seat is located in the town of Tanumshede, with 1,600 inhabitants....
, possibly made earlier, c. 2,500 to 3,000 years ago, have been entered as a site in the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World heritage program. Rock carvings can be found scattered throughout Bohuslän. The carvings portray the life of an agricultural society with images of daily life, with human figures, religious rituals, ships, circular objects, soles, animals, and fertility figures (E.g. phallus
Phallus
A phallus is an erect penis, a penis-shaped object such as a dildo, or a mimetic image of an erect penis. Any object that symbolically resembles a penis may also be referred to as a phallus; however, such objects are more often referred to as being phallic...
es); and the creation of shallow bowls.
Hundreds
Hundreds of Sweden were sub-divisions of the Swedish provinces until early 20th century. Bohuslän's hundreds were:
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Sports
Despite the non-administrative status of Bohuslän some historical functions remain with football being administered by Bohusläns FotbollförbundBohusläns Fotbollförbund
The Bohusläns Fotbollförbund is one of the 24 district organisations of the Swedish Football Association. It administers lower tier football in the historical province of Bohuslän.- Background :...
.
Notable people from Bohuslän
People from Bohuslän are known as bohuslänningar.- Percy BarnevikPercy BarnevikPercy Nils Barnevik is a Swedish business executive, best known as CEO and later Chairman of Asea Brown Boveri 1988–2002, and for being the centre of a giant pension dispute that shook Sweden in 2003.-Background:...
, UddevallaUddevallaUddevalla is a city and the seat of Uddevalla Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 30,513 inhabitants in 2005.It is located at the bay Byfjorden, of the south-eastern part of the sea known as Skagerrak...
- businessman - Emilie Flygare-CarlénEmilie Flygare-CarlénEmilie Flygare-Carlén was a Swedish novelist.-Biography:Emilie Smith grew up in the archipelago of Bohuslän. Her father, Rutger Smith, was a retired sea captain who had settled down as a small merchant, and she often accompanied him on the voyages he made along the coast...
, StrömstadStrömstadStrömstad is a locality and the seat of Strömstad Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 6,110 inhabitants in 2005.Strömstad is, despite its small population, for historical reasons normally still referred to as a city.- History :...
- author - Karl-Axel Gadd, Sotenäs - artist
- Charles Magnus LindgrenCharles Magnus LindgrenCharles Magnus Lindgren was a Swedish born, American shipping executive. He was a pioneer in the Great Lakes shipping industry.-Background:...
, DragsmarkDragsmark AbbeyDragsmark Abbey was a Premonstratensian canonry in Båhuslen, formerly Norway, now Bohuslän, Sweden.-History:The monastery at Dragsmark, also known as "Marieskog" in Norwegian, was founded some time before 1260, with the support of King Håkon Håkonsson, and was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin...
- Swedish-American shipping executive - Karl NordströmKarl NordströmKarl Fredrik Nordström was a Swedish painter and one of the leading members of Konstnärsförbundet, which he chaired from 1896 until its dissolution in 1920....
, TjörnTjörnTjörn is the sixth largest island in Sweden. It is located on the Swedish West coast in the province of Bohuslän.-Geography:Tjörn is connected in the east to the town of Stenungsund on the mainland by the Tjörn bridge, and to the island of Orust in the north by theSkåpesund bridge. The largest town...
- artist - Karin Parrow, Vinga - artist
- Ernst SkarstedtErnst SkarstedtErnst Skarstedt was a Swedish-American author, journalist and editor of Swedish language books and newspapers...
, KungälvKungälvKungälv is a city and the seat of Kungälv Municipality in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. It had 21,139 inhabitants in 2005.-History:According to Swedish official sources the city was founded in 1612, when the former settlement at Kungahälla was moved to the Bohus Fortress...
- Swedish-American author, journalist and editor - Gustaf B Thordén, UddevallaUddevallaUddevalla is a city and the seat of Uddevalla Municipality, Västra Götaland County, Sweden with 30,513 inhabitants in 2005.It is located at the bay Byfjorden, of the south-eastern part of the sea known as Skagerrak...
- shipping
See also
- History of SwedenHistory of SwedenModern Sweden started out of the Kalmar Union formed in 1397 and by the unification of the country by King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. In the 17th century Sweden expanded its territories to form the Swedish empire. Most of these conquered territories had to be given up during the 18th century...
- Prehistoric SwedenPrehistoric SwedenScandinavian prehistory began when the Scandinavian peninsula, formerly entirely covered by thick ice, became free of ice at the end of the last ice age, around 11,000 BC. At that time, a hunter gatherer people, the Ahrensburg culture, lived and hunted near the edge of the ice...
(9,000 BC– 800 CE: Stone and Bronze Ages) - Nordic Stone AgeNordic Stone AgeThe Nordic Stone Age refers to the Stone Age of Scandinavia.-Late Upper Paleolithic:As the ice receded, reindeer grazed on the plains of Denmark and southernmost Sweden, while along the coast of western Sweden, marine resources were exploited...
- Nordic Bronze AgeNordic Bronze AgeThe Nordic Bronze Age is the name given by Oscar Montelius to a period and a Bronze Age culture in Scandinavian pre-history, c. 1700-500 BC, with sites that reached as far east as Estonia. Succeeding the Late Neolithic culture, its ethnic and linguistic affinities are unknown in the absence of...
- History of Sweden (CE 800–1521) (Viking and Middle Ages)
- Prehistoric Sweden