This article discusses ship symbolism in Scandinavia during the Bronze Age, 1700—500 BC. It is argued that the ship symbol in south Scandinavia can be primarily related to a mythology guarded by individuals, while the ship symbol in the areas to the north had a more public character, being part of rituals involving many people. The argument is strengthened by a discussion of differences in the rock-carving practice in southern and northern Bohuslän and of ship settings in three different regions. It is argued that the identified differences in the use of the ship symbol are the result of different social strategies, namely a network strategy dominating in the south and a corporate strategy dominating in the areas to the north. By focusing on actions and local contexts, a view of the Bronze Age emerges that differs from recent studies, which instead have underlined the similarities between Scandinavia and central and south Europe in the Bronze Age.
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