Traces of a rich history

Trollheimen is a mountainous area with a rich and diverse cultural history, where visitors can find traces of ancient hunting and trapping cultures, Stone Age settlements, Sámi reindeer herding, and summer mountain farming.

The oldest settlements likely date back to the early Stone Age, approximately 9000 years ago, when hunters and trappers followed the retreat of the glaciers to hunt reindeer. Flint tools and remains of ancient trapping sites such as pitfall traps, guiding fences and hides are evidence of human adaptation to nature in different periods.

Several of these sites can be found in mountainous areas such as Blåhø, Gjevilvasskamman and around Resvatnet lake. In addition, there are traces of specialized trapping in Trollheimen, such as the trapping of falcons dating back to the 16th century. There are also traces of iron production sites that likely date back to 0–500 CE.

Settlements were established from the 17th century onwards, including farmsteads and summer mountain farms in the valleys such as Storlihalsen, Vindøldalen and Kvenndalen. Several of these were inhabited until the mid-20th century, and some of the summer mountain farms are still in operation today.

Although many summer mountain farms are in disrepair or have been converted into vacation homes, remnants of the cultural landscape and the mountain farmhouses are important for the distinctive character of Trollheimen. The cultural monuments found in Trollheimen are protected, and the area holds great value as a historic landscape. Sámi cultural monuments, old settlements, and unique rock formations continue to provide new knowledge about the area’s use throughout history. The combination of history, nature, and tradition found in Trollheimen is an important source for understanding human interaction with the mountains over thousands of years.