Maglemosian culture
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| Geographical range | Europe |
|---|---|
| Period | Mesolithic Europe |
| Dates | c. 9000 – c. 6000 BC |
| Preceded by | Ahrensburgian, Swiderian culture |
| Followed by | Kongemose culture |
| The Mesolithic |
|---|
| ↑ Upper Paleolithic |
| ↓ Neolithic |
Maglemosian (c. 9000 – c. 6000 BC) is the name given to a culture of the early Mesolithic period in Northern Europe. In Scandinavia, the culture was succeeded by the Kongemose culture and Tardenoisian culture.
Overview
The name originates from the Danish archeological site Maglemose, situated near Gørlev and Høng on western Zealand, southwest of lake Tissø. Here the first settlement of the culture was excavated in 1900, by George Sarauw.[1] During the following century a long series of similar settlements were excavated from England to Poland and from Skåne in Sweden to northern France.
The Maglemosian people lived in forest and wetland environments, using fishing and hunting tools made from wood, bone, and flint microliths. It appears that they had domesticated the dog.[citation needed] Some may have lived settled lives, but most were nomadic.[citation needed]
Huts made of bark have been preserved, and the tools were made of flint, bone, and horn. A characteristic of the culture are the sharply edged microliths of flintstone, used for spear and arrow heads.[2] Another notable feature is the "leister", a characteristic type of fishing spear, used for gigging.
When the Maglemosian culture reigned, sea levels were much lower than now and Europe and Scandinavia were landlocked with Britain. The cultural period overlaps the end of the last ice age, when the ice retreated and the glaciers melted. It was a long process and sea levels in Northern Europe did not reach current levels until almost 6000 BC, by which time they had inundated large territories previously inhabited by Maglemosian people. Therefore, there is hope that the emerging discipline of underwater archaeology may reveal interesting finds related to the Maglemosian culture in the future.
Scandinavian data table
| Era | Early Maglemosian culture | Middle Maglemosian culture | Late Maglemosian culture |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timespan | 9,000 BC – 7,800 BC | 7,800 BC – 7,000 BC | 7,000 BC – 6,400 BC |
| Climatic period | Preboreal Epoch | Boreal Epoch | Atlantic Epoch |
| Plantgrowth | Birch-pine era | Hazel-pine era | Later linden era |
| Mammal game | aurochs, bison, elk, wild horse | aurochs, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, fox, polecat, badger, wildcat | aurochs, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, fox, polecat, badger, wildcat |
| Bird game | crane, lapwing | merganser, grebe, coot, heron, crane, lapwing | merganser, grebe, coot, heron, crane, lapwing |
| Locale type | Klosterlund |
See also
Sources
- Anders Fischer: "Submerged Stone Age – Danish Examples and North sea potential"; i: N.C.Flemming: Submarine Prehistory and Arhaeology of the North Sea: research priorities and collaboration with industry. CBA Research Report 141, 2004, s. 23ff
Danish-language texts
- Geoffrey Bibby: Spadens vidnedsbyrd; Wormanium 1980, ISBN 87-8516-071-7 s. 109f
- Gyldendal og Politikens Danmarkshistorie (red. af Olaf Olsen); Bind 1: I begyndelsen. Fra de ældste tider til ca. år 200 f.Kr. (ved Jørgen Jensen); 1988, s. 47ff
- Jørgen Jensen: Danmarks Oldtid. Stenalder, 13.000–2.000 f.Kr.; Gyldendal 2001, ISBN 87-00-49038-5 s. 86ff
- Anders Fischer: "En håndfuld flint", Skalk nr. 5, 1973, s. 8ff
- Anders Fischer: "Mennesket og havet i ældre stenalder"; i: Carin Bunte (red): Arkeologi och Naturvetenskab, Lund 2005, s. 276ff
- Kim Aaris-Sørensen: "Uroksejagt", Skalk nr. 6, 1984, s. 10ff
- Ole Grøn: "Teltning", Skalk nr. 1, 1988, s. 13f
- Søren A. Sørensen: "Hytte ved sø", Skalk nr. 3, 1988, s. 25ff
- Peter Vang Petersen: "Bjørnejagt", Skalk nr. 5, 1991, s. 3ff
- Poul og Kristian Krabbe: "Vest for Valhal", Skalk nr. 6, 1995, s. 11ff
- Axel Degn Johansen: "Ikke en sky og ikke en vind!", Skalk nr 2, 2008, s. 8ff
References
- ^ Sarauw, G. F. L. (1903). "En Stenaldersboplads i Maglemose ved Mullerup – sammenholdt med beslægtede fund". Aarbøger for nordisk Oldkyndighed og Historie (in Danish). 1903.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|trans_title=ignored (|trans-title=suggested) (help) A German translation appeared in Prähistorische Zeitschrift in 1911 - ^ Med bue, pil og fiskespyd Gyldendals Open Encyclopedia Template:Da icon. Pictures of some Maglemosian tools.