{
  "abstract": "Rock art serves as a remarkable window into Bronze Age societies and is usually interpreted through motif and setting. The exceptionally well-preserved art in Bohuslän is recognized as world heritage with a wide range of imagery engraved into the local Bohus granite. Here we connect the depth of these carvings with near surface structure of this granite by combining ultrasonic pulse-echo B-scans with Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry and DEM based depth modelling for five major panels. The B-scans reveal surface parallel reflective horizons at ~8–9 mm and ~18–20 mm depth (11 and 25 mm at one site) consistent with para-glacial stress-relief microfracture zones. Our investigation shows an average depth for most figures of ~0.96–1.52 mm, and even the deepest carvings lay entirely within the first weak layer. While they exceed the post-glacial depth of weathering (≤1 mm), which was previously thought to be the limiting factor for carving depth. A nearby, polished but uncarved outcrop lacks reflective layers. We conclude that carvers preferentially selected panels with paraglacial weakening and even show preferential placement on an individual panel. Thus, placement and choice of locations were based on geological necessity and its understanding by the carvers.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Department of Earth Science, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden",
    "Department of Historical Studies, University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 7,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Carina Liebl"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Mark Peternell"
    },
    {
      "name": "Christian Horn"
    },
    {
      "name": "Johan Ling"
    },
    {
      "name": "Julian Moyano Di Carlo"
    },
    {
      "name": "Ashely Green"
    },
    {
      "name": "Rich Potter"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/69184fvy93gm8.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358075",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "69184fvy93gm8",
  "issns": [
    "1932-6203"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358075",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3302|Archaeology and Rock Art Studies"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Anatomy/Animal anatomy/Vibrissae"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animal anatomy/Vibrissae"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Zoology/Animal physiology/Vibrissae"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Geology"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Mineralogy/Minerals"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Earth sciences/Mineralogy/Minerals/Granite"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Electronics engineering/3D printing"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Equipment/Optical equipment/Cameras"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Engineering and technology/Industrial engineering/Process engineering/Industrial processes/Manufacturing processes/Surface treatments"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Anatomy/Animal anatomy/Vibrissae"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Physical sciences/Mathematics/Geometry/Polygons"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7213929076",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0358075&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-21",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/69184fvy93gm8.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pone.0358075",
      "source": "plos",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0358075"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:zoology",
      "subfield": "zoology-behaviour"
    },
    {
      "field": "earth",
      "origin": "plos:geology",
      "subfield": "geology-geochemistry"
    },
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:anatomy",
      "subfield": "physiology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Rock carving depth reflects carvers’ geological insight",
  "title_text": "Rock carving depth reflects carvers’ geological insight",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:43Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/69184fvy93gm8",
  "venue": "PLOS One",
  "versions": []
}