TY - JOUR
T1 - An integrated analysis of Maglemose bone points reframes the Early Mesolithic of Southern Scandinavia
AU - Zetner Trolle Jenson, Theis
AU - Sjostrom, Arne
AU - Fischer, Anders
AU - Rosengren, Erika
AU - Lanigan, Liam Thomas
AU - Bennike, Ole
AU - Korzow Richter, Kristine
AU - Gron, Kurt Joseph
AU - Mackie, Meaghan
AU - Fischer Mortensen, Morten
AU - Sorensen, Lasse
AU - Chivall, David
AU - Hojolt Iversen, Katrine
AU - Taurozzi, Alberto John
AU - Olsen, Jesper
AU - Schroeder, Hannes
AU - Milner, Nicky
AU - Sorensen, Mikkel
AU - Collins, Matthew
PY - 2020/10/14
Y1 - 2020/10/14
N2 - The extensive peat bogs of Southern Scandinavia have yielded rich Mesolithic archaeological assemblages, with one of the most iconic artefacts being the bone point. Although great in number they remain understudied. Here we present a combined investigation of the typology, protein-based species composition, and absolute chronology of Maglemosian bone points. The majority of the bone points are made from cervids and bovines. However, changes both in species composition and barb morphology can be directly linked to a paucity of finds lasting nearly 600 years in Southern Scandinavia around 10,300 cal BP. We hypothesize that this hiatus was climate-driven and forced hunter-gatherers to abandon the lakes. Furthermore, the marked change in bone points coincides with a change in lithic technology. We, therefore, propose that the Maglemose culture in Southern Scandinavia is fundamentally divided into an Early Complex and a Late Complex.
AB - The extensive peat bogs of Southern Scandinavia have yielded rich Mesolithic archaeological assemblages, with one of the most iconic artefacts being the bone point. Although great in number they remain understudied. Here we present a combined investigation of the typology, protein-based species composition, and absolute chronology of Maglemosian bone points. The majority of the bone points are made from cervids and bovines. However, changes both in species composition and barb morphology can be directly linked to a paucity of finds lasting nearly 600 years in Southern Scandinavia around 10,300 cal BP. We hypothesize that this hiatus was climate-driven and forced hunter-gatherers to abandon the lakes. Furthermore, the marked change in bone points coincides with a change in lithic technology. We, therefore, propose that the Maglemose culture in Southern Scandinavia is fundamentally divided into an Early Complex and a Late Complex.
U2 - 10.1038/s41598-020-74258-8
DO - 10.1038/s41598-020-74258-8
M3 - Article
SN - 2045-2322
VL - 10
JO - Scientific Reports
JF - Scientific Reports
M1 - 17244
ER -