Professor emeritus Knut Arne Helskog is awarded the King's Medal of Merit

The Rock Art Network would like to thank the Alta Museum - World Heritage Rock Art Centre, Karin Tansem and Johan Lagergård for assisting in producing this article.

In 2023 it will be 50 years since the first pellets findings in Alta were made known to the authorities. In all the years since this, Knut Helskog has made an extraordinary effort linked to the world heritage Bergkunsten in Alta. Rock art has been his life's work, and he is one of Scandinavia's leading rock art scientists. His work has garnered great recognition, and had local, regional, national and international significance.

Knut Helskog's efforts are unparalleled and his name will forever be inseparable to the rock art in Alta. His pioneering documentation and research work has produced important knowledge that has been an inspiration to other researchers. His general publicity efforts have always been extensive. He worked to survey all the rock art phenomena in Alta and document the extensive findings, date, contextualize and interpret them. He played a central role in the process that led to the inscription of Alta rock art on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.

Knut Helskog is a member of the Rock Art Network which comprises individuals and institutions committed to the promotion, protection, and conservation of rock art globally. Knut has taken part in Rock Art Network colloquium's in Africa, America and Europe bringing his extensive experience and knowledge to the Rock Art Network’s purpose to foster principles of research and of conservation, create network of collaboration and, importantly, promote public and political awareness of this fragile and irreplaceable global heritage. All members of the Rock Art Network would like to congratulate Knut on his award.

The King's Medal of Merit (Norwegian: Kongens fortjenstmedalje) is a Norwegian award. It was instituted in 1908 to reward meritorious achievements in the fields of art, science, business, and public service. The handover will take place at the World Heritage Center for Rock Art - Alta Museum on Thursday 14. on December at 1300.

Knut Helskog’s specific interest in rock art began in 1973 with the discovery of the large panels in Alta, Arctic Norway. He launched the investigation, documentation, and presentation of this discovery that same year and wrote the academic basis for the World Heritage application in 1983. Helskog developed an extensive approach to visitor management for the site and was instrumentally involved in the construction and development of Alta Museum in 1991. He has been a member of numerous committees involved in the protection and presentation of rock art, including the governing board of the Alta Museum to the end of 2014. He has worked extensively with the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage on major rock art projects that have included protection, documentation, conservation, sustainable presentation, and school programs. He has served as an adviser on rock art projects in Russian Karelia (1997–2008), Uzbekistan (2003–10), and Azerbaijan (2004–10).

In addition to rock art, Helskog has been responsible for organizing and managing large-scale excavations connected with development in northern Norway, including road and hydroelectric projects and oil installations. He has served as dean of Tromsø Museum (1994–96), three years leading the Department of Archaeology, and editor of the journal of Tromsø Museum. He has also undertaken archaeological research excavations in Russian Karelia and on the Kola Peninsula in northernmost Russia, in cooperation with colleagues from the Russian Academy of Sciences (1992–2000).

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