Maglemosian culture
Geographical rangeEurope
PeriodMesolithic Europe
Datesc. 9000 – c. 6000 BC
Preceded byAhrensburgian
Fosna–Hensbacka culture
Swiderian culture
Followed byKongemose culture

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.

Environment and location

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.

When the Maglemosian culture flourished, sea levels were much lower than now and what is now mainland Europe and Scandinavia were linked with Britain. The cultural period overlaps the end of the last ice age,[2] 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.

Characteristics

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.[3] Some may have lived settled lives, but most were nomadic.

Huts made of bark have been preserved, in addition to tools made of flint, bone, and horn. A characteristic of the culture are the sharply edged microliths of flintstone, used for spear and arrow heads.[4] Another notable feature is the leister, a characteristic type of fishing spear, used for gigging.

Scandinavian data table

Era Timespan Climatic period Plantgrowth Mammal game Bird game Locale type
Early Maglemosian culture 9,000 BC – 7,800 BC Preboreal Epoch Birch-pine era aurochs, bison, elk, wild horse crane, lapwing
Middle Maglemosian culture 7,800 BC – 7,000 BC Boreal Epoch Hazel-pine era aurochs, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, fox, polecat, badger, wildcat merganser, grebe, coot, heron, crane, lapwing Klosterlund
Late Maglemosian culture 7,000 BC – 6,400 BC Atlantic Epoch Later linden era aurochs, red deer, roe deer, wild boar, lynx, fox, polecat, badger, wildcat merganser, grebe, coot, heron, crane, lapwing

Genetics

See also

References

  1. ↑ Sarauw, G. F. L. (1903). "En Stenaldersboplads i Maglemose ved Mullerup – sammenholdt med beslægtede fund" [A Stone Age settlement in Maglemose near Mullerup – compared with related finds. Resumé: Études sur le premier âge de la pierre du Nord de l'Europe]. Aarbøger for Nordisk Oldkyndighed og Historie (in Danish). 1903. A German translation appeared in Prähistorische Zeitschrift in 1911
  2. ↑ Jessen, Catherine A.; Pedersen, Kristoffer Buck; Christensen, Charlie; Olsen, Jesper; Mortensen, Morten Fischer; Hansen, Keld Møller (2015). "Early Maglemosian culture in the Preboreal landscape: Archaeology and vegetation from the earliest Mesolithic site in Denmark at Lundby Mose, Sjælland". Quaternary International. 378: 73–87. Bibcode:2015QuInt.378...73J. doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.03.056.
  3. ↑ "Stone Age remains are Britain's earliest house". Retrieved 2018-01-28.
  4. ↑ Med bue, pil og fiskespyd Gyldendals Open Encyclopedia (in Danish). Pictures of some Maglemosian tools.

Sources

  • Anders Fischer: "Submerged Stone Age – Danish Examples and North sea potential"; i: N.C.Flemming: Submarine Prehistory and Archaeology 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


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