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159

The Earliest Settlement in Southern Sweden Late Settlement Rernains at Finjasjön, in the North of Scania

Lars Larsson

Our knowledge of Late Palaeolithic settlements in Southern Sweden has been increased significantly by investigations which started at the end of the 1980s. Great interest attaches to the new find locations discovered close to lake Finjasjön in the north of Scania. Two find locations have been investigated at the outlet of the river Almeån from the lake. The Vångamos- sen bog is a camping place dating from the Bromme Culture. Finds re- covered from a sandy hill at Mölleröd indicate brief visits including during the Culture. This find location is the first to contain re- mains from the in Sweden. New studies into the changes which took place in the Öresund area during the ice melting phase point to the existence of a land bridge only for short periods. The outflow of meltwater through the Öresund at other times during the Late Glacial period prevented or obstructed the fauna migration routes. These factors must be taken into account in any comparison of Late Palaeolithic settlement in Southern Sweden with the various cultural complexes which occur in North Germany and in the Danish region.

Lars Larsson, Institute of A rchaeology, Universi tv of Lund, ICrafts torg I, S-223 50 Lund. Sweden.

For the past thirty the factual situation appropriate to a group of the size of a family. relating to Late Palaeolithic settlement in On the basis of new analyses of the Southern Sweden has been limited to a single eponymous site, Bromme, on Zealand (Fi- excavated site, at Segebro in south-west Sca- scher & Sonne Nielsen 1987:23ff), the nia. It was discovered by chance during Segebro site probably belongs to an older excavations on a site in 1960 part of the Bromme Culture, when the major- (Salomonsson 1964). The artefact material ity of tanged points still have the bulb of and the distribution of the finds agree very percussion preserved, in spite of the closely with the numerous site finds in Den- retouching of the tang. mark which belong to the Bromme Culture A small number of individual finds of (Mathiasen 1946; Andersen 1973; 1988; Fi- tanged points from south-west Scania had scher 1976; 1990a; Fischer & Mortensen already been reported (Salomonsson 1961) 1978; Madsen 1983). The remains which when details of Segebro were published, were found correspond to the features although a certain period has elapsed since

Current Sivedislr Archaeology, Vol. 2, l994 160 Lars Larsson

what we know about the Late Palaeolithic worked was found at each site (Larsson was the subject of more detailed study. 1986). They are probably the remains of The project "The Late Palaeolithic Sett- camp sites which were used for a short pe- lement in Southern Sweden" was begun in riod. 1988 with a view to collecting and analyzing The new finds of tanged points have data in respect of Late Palaeolithic settle- contributed to a major extension (Fig. 1) of ment remains. This included visiting the the distribution of finds of tanged points of previously known sites of finds of tanged the Bromme type, which were previously points for the purpose of establishing whether known only within south-west Scania. One these marked the position of sites of Late find was made as far north as on the south Palaeolithic settlement. New studies of mu- side of the South Swedish Uplands (Wester- seum collections have also resulted in the gren 1979:34). Further finds in northern identification of a number of tanged points Scania have confirmed that this find was not of the Bromme type. Unfortunately, the an extreme northerly marker of remains majority of such find data is of such a general associated with (Carlie & Götz 1983; that it has not been possible to identify 1986). the precise location of the find (Larsson These new finds also provide an interes- 1984).Contacts with amateur archaeologists ting picture of the topography of the find have also led to several finds being made. sites. Certain points were found adjacent to Three tanged points were found at each of the inlets into and the outlets from lakes; this two find locations in southern Scania —Anna- is a site location which is highly typical of välla, Slimminge parish and Karlsro, Sövde Danish finds (Fischer 1976). Others were parish —but only a very limited number of found at the edge of tunnel valleys or on a raised area in undulating countryside.

LATE PALAEOLITHIC SETTLEMENT REMAINS CLOSE TO LAKE FINJAS JÖN, NORTHERN SCANIA Of the recently discovered find locations, there can be no doubt that the most interes- ting finds have been recovered from those close to lake Finjasjön in northern Scania. Interest began to be shown in this area following the discovery of tanged points of the Bromme type in a private collection. Finds of this type of tanged point could be identified from at least two areas. These main areas covered the land on the northern shore of lake Finjasjön to the west of the river Almeån, which is the only outlet from the lake (Fig. 3). The other area, known as Fig. I. Late Glacial fittdsin southernmost Sweden. Finja kärr (marsh), extended for a distance of Legend; I: single finds of taizged points oftlze Brom- about 3 km in a south-westerly direction over me type, 2: sites with a least three finds of tanged the western points of the Bromme type, 3: excavated Late part of shore of lake Finjasjön. A Palaeolithicsites, 4: single fiizds oftanged points of' minor watercourse flows out into the lake at tlie A hrensburg type and 5: si ngle finds ojimpletnetzt this point. It is possible, both from the made of a»tlei: topography and from aerial photographs, to

Carrent Swedish Arcliaeolirgy, Vot. 2, I994 The Earliest Settlement in Southern Sweden t6t

Fig. 2. Tangedpointsofthe Bromme tvpe from Seani a. l—2: Karlsro and 3—5: Annavii Ila (Larsson 1986). distinguish a comprehensive delta system in vestigation during the spring of 1990, when this area consisting of depressions filled a sparse system of test trenches covered an with organic material and with low raised area of 200x50 metres which included sandy areas between them. It was on these two low raised sandy areas. Only a single raised areas that the finds of implements find, a surface find of a tanged point of — (Fig. 4: 1 4) and worked were recorded. the Bromme type, has been dated to the A part of the area was the subject of in- Late Palaeolithic (Fig. 4: 5). The sparse distribution of worked flint and imple- ments was otherwise found to belong to an Early Mesolithic settlement. In the spring of 1991 the archaeological investigation concentrated on a low raised sandy area on part of the northern shore of the lake. This raised area was the southernmost part of an area which had previously been damaged, although the extent of the damage is not clear, by the building of a football pitch. A map dating from 1820 shows the position of the site to have been directly adjacent to the shoreline (Fig. 5) before the level of lake Finjasjön was lowered during the nineteenth century. The depression to the south of the find location was filled with organic material. This was also true of the area to the east of the find location, which represented the south- eastern part of a long and narrow stretch of bog known as the Vangamossen bog which Fig. 3. Late Finjasjiin andi(s surroundings. extended in a north-south direction. The

Curretu Swedish Arehaeotogs; Vot. 2, /994 162 Lurs Larsson

Fig. 4. Tangedpointsfrom Finj a klirr (marsh).

topographical conditions mean that the site, which is eponymous with the bog, now occupies a slightly marked headl and. Find material belonging to the Bromme Culture was discovered in the course of the archaeological investigation, which included a continuous area of just over 40 square metres. All the objects were found in a stretch of sandy humus which marks the path of the plough. Its considerable depth of 0.3 m can be explained by the fact that wind erosion has built up an unusually thick layer of topsoil. In addition, both Mesolithic and artefacts were found in the same layer. The four fragments of tanged points from the Bromme Culture which had previously been recovered as surface finds were now added to by nine new finds of tanged points (Fig. 6: I —4). These are fragmentary, with two exceptions, and consist primarily of base parts. Of the scrapers recovered from the site, three exhibit retouching with a shape such that, with a shallow angle Fig. 5. The northern shoreline of lake Finjasjön, between the retouching and the surface of showing the Late Glacial settlements. The braken the can be dated with line marks the shoreline before the level of the lake cleavage face, they was lowered during the ni neteenth centurv and the great probability to the Late Palaeolithic filled areas (above) mark the bogs from the same (Fig. 6: 5—7). Certain other objects, including period. a with the combined function of /

Current Swedish Archueotogy, Vol. 2, l994 The Earlie»t Se(tlenzenr izz Soatlzern Seeeden 163

Fig. 6. Finds fiom tlze settlemezzt at Vångatnossen. l— 4 tanged point» and 5—7 seraper».

borer, exhibit characteristic features of the immediate vicinity. Bromme Culture. Tanged points of the Bromme type have The quantity of waste material from been found in at least three locations close to Vångamossen is limited, which suggests lake Finjasjön —at Finja kärr (marsh), that flint-working did not take place to any Vångamossen bog and the neighbouring great extent here. The finds indicate, rather, Mölleröd area (Fig. 3). A find situation that were reshafted here, since the which suggests some form of camping place majority of the points are fragmentary. The occurs at only a single location, whereas the tanged points are made of both south-west other find circumstances indicate stays of Scanian Senonian flint and Kristianstad flint very short duration. These find locations (Fig. 6:1 and 4). Kristianstad flint of the high differ in this respect from Segebro and those quality represented here is found primarily in East Denmark, which contain a lot of in the area to the north of Kristianstad. waste material from the raw material- Tanged points of the Bromme type made of intensive flint working technique which Kristianstad flint have also been found along characterizes the Bromme Culture (Fischer the western edge of lake Finjasjön (Fig. 4:1). 1990a).Find locations of this kind are known To judge from the shape of the tanged within the Bromme Culture, however. A points, with remaining parts of the bulb of number of find locations with tanged points, percussion and the , the few other implements and small quantities points from Vångamossen probably belong of waste are situated in a -documented to an early part of the Bromme Culture area of Vendsyssel, on North Jutland (Nils- (Fischer & Sonne Nielsen 1987:23ff). son 1989:72). Surface finds, including a couple of heavy A section of shoreline about three flakes which are characteristic of the flaking kilometres long lies between Finja kärr technique of the Bromme Culture, have been (marsh) and Vångamossen bog. We are not made less than a hundred metres to the east aware of any other find locations apart from of the investigated site (Fischer 1990a:41); a single site which is rich in worked flints this points to the presence of a number of and implements dating from the Mesolithic, remains from the same period in the situated immediately to the west of Vånga-

Czzrrezzt Szeedish Azehzzerztzzgi; Vol. 2, 1994 l 64 Lars Larsson mossen bog. This is explained largely by the marked sandy hill (Fig. 7). Its maximum fact that most of the shore zone consists of height at the present time is about three grazing land which has still not been the metres above the level of the surrounding subject of a detailed inventory. land. Old maps show the southern slope of the sandy hill to have been situated directly THE MÖLLERÖD SITE adjacent to the sand zone before the level of A couple of surface finds from a find loca- the lake was lowered. A shoreline running tion on the other side of the bog, in a south-eastern direction from the sandy approximately 200 m further to the east hill as far as the outlet of the river Almeån, (Fig. 5 and 7), were recorded in conjunction which lies some 500 m from the sandy hill, with the excavation at Vångamossen. These can be traced on the old maps (Fig. 5). finds consisted of two so-called zinken— The finds of zinken led to a further small beaked implements probably used for investigation of the site on a smaller scale in working —a characteristic implement the autumn of 1991, and to extended field of the Hamburg Culture (Fig. 8:3 and 6).The work during 1992. The archaeological find location, known as Mölleröd, lies in a investigation was to comprise two long, military training area. The top grassy layer narrow trenches running from the southern had been damaged by the passage of heavy edge of the raised area and a substantial tracked vehicles, and worked flints had been system of test pits distributed over the exposed and recovered. This place has long entire areaof the find location. The trenches been known to the local population as a which were sunk revealed a stratigraphy of place where many flint objects have been up to two metres' depth in places, com- found, since the area was previously used prising layers of gyttja and peat interspersed as arable land. with layers of sand. It can be appreciated The site location is situated immediately from the complex pattern of layers that to the east of Vångamossen and includes a variations in the water level and consider-

Fi g. 7. Thejtnd location Möllerödut lake Finj asjön vi ewed from the south-east with wetlandi n the foreground. Most of the Late Palaeolithic find» were discovered close to the two bushes in the middle of the picture. The hillside leading down to the outermost part of the Vångamossen bog can be seen ott the extreme left (se Fig. 5).

Curremgwedislt Archaeology, Vok 2, /994 The Earliest Seulemen(in Snudrenr Siveden 165 able erosion both contributed to the type, however, no finds capable of being complexity of the stratigraphy. related to the typical flint technique for the The sandy hill was used as an encamp- were made at this ment over a very long period. The find mate- location. Implements which resemble the rial comes from an area of several thousand zinken may occur from time to time in the square metres which was used repeatedly as flint material belonging to a Neolithic con- an encampment during significant parts of text, although not in the numbers or with the the . Quite a small number of distinctive form with which we are con- objects which may be regarded as dating cerned here. from the Late Palaeolithic were recovered The earliest settlement remains consist in the course of the archaeological in- of a small number of so-called zinken to- vestigations. This limited material was gether with a number of tanged points. Of subsequently added to by new surface finds. the readily identifiable zinken, there are six Individual finds point to settlement during intact or fragmentary examples (Fig. 8: I —6). the Early Mesolithic, whereas by far the As far as the dating of the current finds is dominant proportion of the material was concerned, the only methods which could deposited during the late Kongemose Cul- be applied were those based on a compara- ture and the Ertebglle Culture. Activities tive typology. As already stated, the zinken during the Neolithic are also represented by is a characteristic form of implement for the Early Neolithic and two vessels, Hamburg Culture. According to finds from presumably a sacrificial find on the shoreline Lpvenholm on East Jutland, certain zinken- of the period, dating from the late Battle like implements may occur in the context of Culture. tanged points of the Bromme type (Madsen 1983: 19). EARLIEST SETTLEMENT REMAINS The fact that two of the zinken exhibit FROM MÖLLERÖD retouching of a kind which indicates that The accumulation of remains from the long they may be interpreted as combination period of settlement presents considerable implements is also a common of the difficulties in identifying the Late Palaeo- Hamburg Culture. One of these is a front- lithic finds. There is only an extremely limi- retouched point having a form which suggests ted amount of material that possesses char- that this part should be interpreted as a acteristics which indicate that they date borer (Fig. 8:I). However, the object as a from the Late Palaeolithic. Account should whole has a form which closely resembles be taken of the fact that the find material that of a tanged point. In the other case, the also includes a number of objects which broken end has retouching from opposite exhibit similarities of form with those sides (Fig. 8:2). One assumption is that the reported below. object was a double zinken, although this is It is nevertheless necessary to make a less likely interpretation since diagonally allowance for a number of sources of error related retouching from the respective broad when identifying the material which is be- sides, referred to as 'propeller' retouching, lieved to be of a Late Palaeolithic nature. occurs very rarely when forming the point. When classifying tanged points, certain An interesting aspect concerning the zinken characteristics exist which are common both from Mölleröd is their shape. In the find to those which belong to the Late Palaeo- material from the Hamburg Culture there is lithic and to those which belong to an early a marked tendency for the borer-like tip to part of the Pitted Ware Culture. With the face towards the right. The dominant form in exception of one head of the late the finds from Mölleröd, on the other hand,

Crtrre&nSn~edichArchnerdngy, Vol. Z, l994 166 Lars Larsson

Fig. 8. Finds from Méillere&d. l—6 zinken and 7—19t tanged points.

has the tip facing towards the left. In addi- been found, there is one base part which, tion, the zinken at Mölleröd are of generally through its 'propeller' retouching and the coarser execution than those from other sett- different length of the retouching on the lement finds from the Hamburg Culture. point, exhibit characteristic features of the These variations may be taken to indicate points of the Havelte type (Fig. 8:7). Two that they are somewhat younger than those in tanged points can be said to be of the Bromme the majority of the finds from the Hamburg type; both are of slender form (Fig. 8:8—9). Culture. It is not possible, however, fully to exclude Amongst the tanged points which have an association with the .

Carrent Swedish Aretiaeotoxy, Vot. 2, l994 The Earliest Settlement in Southern Sweden 167

It must also be pointed out thata tanged covering a few thousand square metres. In point with similarities with tanged points of view of the limited size of sites dating from the Ahrensburg type was found at Finja kärr the Late Palaeolithic, it is possible that one (marsh); like these, the proximal end of the or more site areas were missed when sink- blade is in the tip part (Fig. 4: 4). ing the test pits. Although the two zinken The find material also includes a group and the point of the Havelte type were found of tanged points of a special design (Fig. 8: within an area of less than 100 square metres 10—13). These are characterized by the fact (Fig. 5), the location of the finds cannot be that they exhibit tang retouching, but also interpreted as primary remains of a short by further retouching on one side and partial stay, since the objects were found in a layer retouching on the other side at an angle with of topsoil covering the extensive strati- the tang part. In certain cases the tang is graphy which is present in the lower part of formed by 'propeller' retouching. the hill. The most plausible explanation for The small group of points which has the find location is that one or more original been identified as having a special nature accumulations of remains subsequently exhibits a form which most closely re- became scattered. As can be appreciated sembles an oblique with a tang. from the extensive stratigraphy in the slope Oblique have been found at leading down towards the former shoreline Mölleröd, although these were made from of lake Finjasjön, the area has been subjec- thin like those from other Scanian ted to considerable erosion. Different water locations (Larsson 1982; 1983). Oblique levels, as indicated by small indentations arrowheads with a tang-like extension can along the shoreline, gyttja deposits and other also occur on sites from the Kongemose deposits which have been partially washed Culture (Brinch Petersen et al. 1977: 153; away, indicate that the area has undergone Larsson 1983:Fig. 17:7),although the form considerable reshaping through changes in of these differs markedly from the points the water level. Higher up the hill, the test from Mölleröd with which we are concer- pits provide evidence of a number of ned here. Examples of this form have also humusrich layers which are the result of been recovered as surface finds at Finja kärr the repeated covering of the land by sand. (marsh) (Fig. 4: 3). It is not possible to give Sand drifting in the area may have been any clear cultural association for these considerable, therefore, in the absence of points. They have similarities with points vegetation cover on the land. The eolithic of the Havelte type, but also with points and water-based erosion phenomena may from the Ahrensburg Culture. The latter have exposed the area to very considerable culture is represented through a number changes. It seems probable that the hill had of finds of tanged points within the Scanian a much more accentuated relief during an area (Larsson 1991b: Fig. 12.4). early part of the ice melting phase than that The finds can thus be summarized as which is evident today. including implements which are typical of the Hamburg Culture and others which only HAMBURG CULTURE IN SOUTH- have certain features in common with mate- WEST rial from that culture. Finds belonging to the Evidence of the Hamburg Culture in south- Bromme Culture have also been made. A west Scandinavia has been found at a small number of tang-like points cannot be number of locations in Denmark, including integrated into any known material culture South Jutland and West Lolland (Fig. 9). Of complex. these, the two camping places at Jels were The objects were found within an area the first to be confirmed in Scandinavia

Current Swedish Arehaeolog», Voh 2, l 994 168 Lars Larsson

(Holm & Rieck 1992). These two site areas corresponds to the middle of the Bpfling have been interpreted as differing Period (Holm 1993:15).A preliminary pol- chronologically to some extent. Tanged len analysis also puts the age of the find points of the Havelte type occur at both horizon in the Bglling Period. sites, however. A thermoluminescence Finds from other parts of Denmark are measurement from Jels 1 gives the value restricted to one other find location, at 12,400+ 1,600 BP (Holm & Rieck 1992:33), Bra:nere, in the same part of South Jutland although the associated considerable mar- as Jels and Slotseng, and to a distinctly gin of error does not provide us with a re- raised area in the landscape — Sglbjerg — on liable chronological starting point. the south-western part of Lolland (Vang A camping area containing material very Petersen & Johansen 1993). The Hamburg similar to that from Jels was found in the Culture is represented at this location course of the investigation of the Slotseng primarily by finds of zinken. However, an site, which is situated only 5 km from Jels analysis of the flint indicates (Holm & Rieck 1992:60ff.). A kettle hole that the production of blades exhibits (dead ice-hole) in the slope below the site similarities with that encountered in Mag- yielded antler and from reindeer and dalenian, and that Splbjerg accordingly one object resembling a zinken. A C-14 predates Jels (Madsen 1992:125). Apart dating of the antler from this layer has from features associating them with the given the value 12,500 + 190 BP, which Hamburg Culture, Jels, Slotseng and Splbjerg also contain more or less comprehensive features from the . Remains of later activities dating from the Late Palaeolithic, such as those from the Bromme Culture at Slotseng (Holm & Rieck 1992: 64) and those from the Ahrensburg Culture at SHlbjerg, also occuI'. A -like implement made of reindeer antler found at Middelgrunden in the Öresund has previously been dated by pollen analy- sis to the ; this has long been regarded

Fig. 9. Distribution of the Ha&nburg Culture (based upon Bosinski 1987.' Abb. H9) and si tes from the Hamburg Culture in southi western Scandinavia.

Current Swedish Archaeotogy, Vot. 2, l994 The Earliest Settlement in Southern Swedetr l 69 as the oldest remain of activity in GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF THE South Scandinavia (Mathiassen 1938).Two MÖLLERÖD SITE C-14 datings have shown the object to be of The location of the Mölleröd site can be recent age, however (Holm & Rieck 1992: regarded as strategic in a local perspective. 65). On the other hand, a fragment of rein- The low and sparse vegetation afforded a deer antler bearing traces of having been good view from the sandy hill out over the worked was found during sand-suction outlet from the lake and the area to the dredging operations in the bay at K9tge. This north of it, and over large parts of the shores has produced a radiometric dating of around of the lake. The area around lake Finjasjön 12, 100BP (Vang Petersen & Johansen 1993). exhibits a very often marked relief, since it The chronological relationship for the includes a number of fault zones with steep contexts which contain tanged points of the slopes and rock outcrops (Fig. 3). There are Havelte type —the so-cal led Havelte Group- pronounced slopes with large-blocked within the Hamburg Culture is extremely moraine both to the north-west and to the problematical. The Havelte Group is regar- north-east of lake Finjasjön. Even more ded in certain cases as belonging to an early pronounced is the slope on the two fault part of the Hamburg Culture (Burdukiewicz sections which run up from the south as far 1986; Tromnau 1981), although it has also as the southern part of the lake. In an Arctic been interpreted as being a late part of that or Sub-Arctic landscape the migratory culture (Stapert 1984; 1986;Tromnau 1975). paths of the reindeer presumably followed The view that the Havelte Group belongs to the low-lying and comparatively easily a late part of the Hamburg Culture is based negotiated valleys. The nature of the terrain on the fact that scrapers of the Wehlen type- thus facilitate the hunting of reindeer by scrapers with retouching of both long sides- driving the animals so that the herds had to which are characteristic of the Federmesser cross the narrow sections of the shore or Culture, occur at sites which belong to the were forced down into the lake or the Havelte Group, and that similarities exist watercourses in the vicinity of the settle- between tanged points of the Havelte type ment, where they could be killed in large and the Bromme type. numbers. A number of C-14 datings have been The existing watercourse is formed by performed for sites belonging to the so- the outlet of the river Almeån from lake called Meiendorf-Poggenwisch Group with Finjasjön. The area of water-logged land tanged points of the kerbsptdztype; most of situated immediately to the west of these fall within the range 12,500 — 12, 100 Mölleröd, the Vångamossen bog, has a form BP (Fischer & Tauber 1986:11).The which may be taken to indicate that the radiometric dating from Slotseng may be site occupied a different position in relation taken to indicate that the Havelte Group is to the watercourses than that which exists the oldest. It has not been satisfactorily at present (Fig. 5). Augerings have shown demonstrated, on the other hand, that the that the Vångamossen bog is probably a finds in the kettle hole actually originate ravine of up to seven metres in depth from the investigated site belonging to the running in a north-south direction. With the Hamburg Culture (Holm 1992:62). Surface exception of quite small areas covered with finds which may indicate the existence of drifting sand, it is possible to follow the further settlement remains have been made water-logged land on old maps as far as the on the slope above the kettle hole. We must river Hörlingeån, some 2 km to the north now await further investigations at this (Fig. 3). It is possible that the course of the location. river during the Late Glacial Period was

Current Stvedielt Arehaeology, Voh 2, l 994 170 Lars Larsson quite different, and that it discharged into fauna during the early part of the ice lake Finjasjön at a point directly adjacent to melting phase, it is more likely that, in Mölleröd. Old maps also show the presence order to reach a sea rich in species, people of water-logged land both to the north and would travel westwards to that part of the to the east of the find location (Fig. 5), which bordered on present-day which means that it was surrounded to all north-west Scania. The watershed between intents and purposes by water, with the the catchment areas of the river Rönneån exception of a narrow area towards the and the river Helgeån lies only a few north-east. kilometres to the west of lake Finjasjön. The interval covered by the Hamburg The distance from lake Finjasjön to the Culture, i.e. the Brylling interstadial, the shore of the North Sea at the time was about and possibly also the earliest 80 km. part of the Allerpd interstadial, has pre- viously been regarded as a cold period LATE GLACIAL DEVELOPMENT OF during which the temperature increased THE ÖRESUND AND ITS successively (Iversen 1973: 30 ff.). Insect CONSEQUENSES FOR SETTLEMENT analyses, however, show that the summer The material from Mölleröd discussed here temperature was significantly higher at contains objects which are characteristic not that time than during any other part of the only of the Hamburg Culture, but also of Late Glacial Period, with a mean summer the Bromme Culture and perhaps the temperature of between 15' and 18' (Lem- Ahrensburg Culture, and a number of tanged dahl 1988b; Kolstrup 1992). The land ice points with an unclear cultural association. also melted rapidly at a rate which may have According to the Danish pattern, the reached as much as 5 km per century (Berg- occurrence of remains of a number of Late lund & Rapp 1988; Björck et al. 1988). In Palaeolithic techno-complexes within a about 12,500 BP, at the time of the earliest limited area appears to be the rule rather datings of the Hamburg Culture, the ice front than the exception. The question, therefore, was situated in the southern part of the is one of how to interpret the relationship of South Swedish Uplands, but was situated in these objects to Late Palaeolithic deve- the northern part some five hundred years lopments. later (Fig. 9). At the time of the earliest The new investigations of the highly settlement on Mölleröd, the ice may have complex circumstances of the Öresund re- been as close as ca. 50 km to the north. The gion, which include rises in sea level, land vegetation in the far south of Sweden elevation, the production of meltwater and changed during the Hamburg Culture from a erosion, are of special significance to any steppe tundra to include increased park assessment of the cultural relationships tundra features. between the Mölleröd finds. The southern The sites around lake Finjasjön was Öresund was previously held to be a land probably a part of a system of settlement bridge during the Late Glacial Period, as a which, in addition to considerable land consequence of which uninterrupted con- masses, also included the coastal region. tacts were assumed to have existed between The ice-dammed lake which was the Baltic large parts of south-west Scandinavia. The could be reached via the river Almeån and results of new geological investigations its continuation into the river Helgeån. Due point to the existence of a much more com- to later land rebound and the damming of plex relationship between land and water the ice lake the shore line might have been (Björck & Digerfeldt 1991; Björck 1994, as close as 20 km. In view of the dearth of information provided personally by Svante

Currenl Swedish Archaeology, Voh 2, /994 Tlte Eorliest Settlementin Sottthern S&veden 17 I

Björck) (Fig. 10). during the Younger Dryas, mainly because The situation up to about 12,000 BP is of the land elevation in the north. The an- unclear. Evidence of a dated to nual migration of herding animals such as between 13,360 + 95 and 13,000 + 120 BP the reindeer across the Öresund may simp- (Berglund et al. 1976) suggests that land ly not have taken place during certain of animals may have been able to migrate into these periods of heavy outflow in the Öre- southernmost Sweden, and that the vegeta- sund. The reindeer is a good swimmer, tion had developed to such an extent that it although the question is whether it would was able to provide adequate feeding for venture to cross such a broad and fast- large herds of animals (Larsson 1991a; flowing expanse of water by swimming or 1991b) (Fig. 10:A). A rise in the level of walking on the ice on regulary basis. the bottom of the Öresund combined with According to the theory which attracts heavy melting of the ice caused the out- most support, the reindeer probably remai- flow to become a fierce flow of water before ned in the south of Sweden during the 12,000 BP (Fig. 10:B).This situation chan- winter months (Study 1975; Bokelmann ged drastically at the time of the break- 1979). A certain degree of doubt may through at Billingen in Västergötland in nevertheless be expressed as to whether the about 11,200 BP, when the level of the ice- same migration patterns existed during the dammed lake dropped by about 10 m in a whole of the Late Glacial Period with its short time. Parts of the Öresund dried up marked changes in climate. initially at that time, although this situation Radiometric datings of reindeer finds continued only until about 10,900 BP (Fig. indicate that a population already existed in 10:C). A reduction in temperature caused southernmost Sweden in around 11,700 BP the land ice to advance, closing off the out- (Liljegren k Lagerås 1993:20 f.), which let at Billingen, when a new outlet was for- suggests that a vigorous population had med via the Öresund (Fig. 10:D).An outlet established itself by no later than about at Billingen was formed once more in about 12,000 BP, when parts of South Sweden 10,300 BP, when the land ice began to were isolated (Björck el ctl. 1993). The withdraw again, and a second land bridge absence of earlier datings of reindeer may was created with the Danish region (Fig. be explained by the fact that most of the 10:E). finds come from smaller lakes or ponds The postulated development for the Öre- which were the result of melting dead ice. sund had considerable consequences on the The dead ice only began to melt away during fauna and also on contacts between the Late the Aflergd interstadial, as it did so creating Palaeolithic communities in South Scan- the conditions enabling parts of the rein- dinavia. Unrestricted access to the present- deer to be deposited in an environment day Danish region only existed between with good conditions of preservation. 11,200 BP and 10,900 BP, and after 10,300 To judge from the datings from Denmark BP. The meltwater flowed out through the and North Germany, the Hamburg Culture Öresund Basin at a more or less rapid rate appears to have existed during a period during the intervening periods; this made which at least corresponded to the interval contacts difficult, or even impossible from 12,500—12, 100 BP. The Federmesser Cul- time to time. ture occurs in about 12,000 BP and may The flow of water would have been have existed during an earlier part of the heavy during the late part of Brylling and an Younger Dryas (Bokelmann el al. 1983; Fi- early part of the Allerpd interstadial, be- scher 1990b: 1991). The only radiometric cause of the heavy melting of the ice, and dating of the Bromme Culture gives the value

Current Swedish Archeteology, Voh 2, l&94 I 72 Lars Larsson

11,100+ 85 BP (Fischer 1977).This origina- (Fischer & Tauber 1986:12). tes from the Trollesgave site, the inventory Aspects of the Federmesser Culture are of which has been interpreted as belonging encountered in both West Denmark and East to a late stage of the Bromme Culture Denmark, although it is only in the former

& 12.000 BP 10.900-10.300 BP

12.000-11.200 BP (10.300 BP

11.200-10.900 BP

Fig. 70. Tentative representation of the landlwater relationship during the Late Glacial Period.

Current SwedishArchaeotogy, Vot 2, 1994 The Eorlient Settlement in Southern Sn:eden

area that evidence of sites which truly be- be appreciated from the fact that datings of long to the Federmesser Culture can be reindeer finds are absent from this period. found (Fischer 1990b; 1991: Fig. 11:3;Holm The ability to maintain continuous settle- 1992). A techno-complex belonging to the ment east of the Öresund was very probably Federmesser Culture occurs at other loca- impaired or even rendered impossible. tions as a feature of material which can be Reindeer migrated back into the Öre- attributed to the Bromme Culture. The sund region only once a land bridge had relationship between the Hamburg Culture, been reestablished; this theory is also the Federmesser Culture and the Bromme reinforced by a number of datings. Those Culture is still largely unclear, however. datings which we have relating to the The Federmesser Culture has been inter- Ahrensburg Culture, all from Stellmoor in preted as a culture which arose during the North Germany, fall within the range Late Hamburg Culture as a result of im- 10,200—9,800 BP (Fischer & Tauber 1986). pulses from the Late (Holm k This coincides closely with the Rieck 1992: 66). The Bromme Culture may reestablishment of a land bridge in the have arisen from an earlier Federmesser Öresund. Culture (Fischer 1991:11). According to the tanged point typology, SETTLEMENT DURING THE LATE the site material from the Bromme Culture in GLACIAL PERIOD Scania extends both to an earlier phase, for A reindeer population and, probably, example Segebro, Annavälla (Fig. 2:3-5) populations of other animals which were and Vångamossen, and to a later phase, well adapted to an Arctic environment, i.e. such as the Karlsro find location with three animals such as the wolf and the wolverine, finds of tanged points (Larsson 1986) (Fig. became established in southernmost Swe- 2:1—2). In line with the development of den before 12,000 BP (Fig. 10: A). After the Öresund, the existence of the Bromme that date, the development of a meltwater Culture is believed to correspond relatively outlet with a strong outflow into the Öre- closely to a phase with a land bridge which sund caused an interruption or a significant existed from about 11,300 to 10,900 BP. reduction in the relationship of these ani- The following stage, the Younger Dryas, mal populations with the Continental ani- is characterized by a steep fall in tempera- mal world (Fig. 10:B).The restrictions on ture. The mean temperature during the sum- mobility which applied to the reindeer popu- mer may have fallen by as much as 8 degrees lation need not have been as marked for the over only a short period (Lemdahl 1988a: humans who were to utilize the Late Gla- 325). This, combined with a break-through cial landscape in South Sweden. of flowing water in the Öresund, may have The finds from Mölleröd, with their had drastic or, more likely, catastrophic obvious influence by the Hamburg Culture consequences for the fauna. If a fauna and on the basis of datings for that culture, corresponding to that of Denmark, with elk, have an age of 12,000 BP or might be red deer and beaver (Aaris-Sörensen 1988), somewhat younger. During the period for existed in southernmost Sweden during the which the Hamburg Culture was in exis- Allerrtid interstadial, a fall in temperature tence, major movements of reindeer herds combined with the opening of the Öresund possibly involving Danish and/or Conti- would probably have caused the total nental areas may have occurred. This may be disappearance of these species. The one of the reasons why the material culture reindeer population may have been exhibited such great similarities over such exterminated or severely reduced, which can a large area extending from Holland in the

Current Swedish Arehueology, Voh Z, l994 174 Lars Larsson west to in the east, and from North within the Danish area. The circumstances in the south to South Scandinavia for the introduction of the Federmesser in the north (Burdukiewicz 1987) (Fig. 9). Culture were thus much poorer than for the The isolation or restricted mobility of introduction of the Hamburg Culture. The the reindeer population which may have fact that permanent settlement occurred in occurred during a late part of the Hamburg South Sweden during the first half of the Culture resulted in geographically restric- twelfth millennium BP does not necessarily ted seasonal migrations by those who mean that it can be identified from the char- utilized the reindeer population which acteristics which exist in the Federmesser existed in the area of present-day Sweden. Culture, for example, or in the earliest part of The fact that the area of interest of economic the Bromme Culture. significance was reduced does not The necessary conditions for migration necessarily mean that the social sphere was into South Sweden by the new animal spe- subject to the same clear restriction. What it cies which can be identified with the forms may have meant, however, is that contacts of hunting of the Bromme Culture only with Continental communities were come into existence again with the reduced. establishment of a land bridge during a late The ice-free area in South Sweden was part of the thirteenth millennium (Fig. 10:C). able to provide food for a large population The Boreal species may have become of reindeer. An abundance of fish, together acclimatized in the far south, whereas the with the possibility of catching seals and Arctic species remained in large parts of whales on the West Coast, probably South Sweden. The form which the Bromme represented an important means of support, Culture takes in South Sweden does not if not the most important. Very few species appear to differ noticeably from that in Den- were represented in the ice-dammed lake mark. Further to the north, however, the within the present Baltic Basin, on the other aspects of the material culture may have hand. At the time when South Sweden was varied to a greater or lesser degree as an cut off from the Continent in about 12,000 expression of the ecological zoning which BP (Fig. 10:B),the land area was probably existed there. of the order of 30,000 square kilometres, Large parts, or perhaps even the whole which was a sufficiently large area to of Scandinavia were depopulated as a result accommodate a vigorous population. If we of the radical deterioration in the climate base our estimate on the population during the earlier part of the Younger Dryas calculations which are available for rein- (Fig. 10:D). South Sweden was only re- deer-hunting Eskimo populations, the populated again when a new land bridge was available area probably provided food for a established (Fig. 10:E). population of at least 400 individuals, We should keep an open mind in future estimated on the basis of the lowest popula- studies, so that we do not base our approach tion density values (Newell el al. 1990:40). too slavishly on the cultural aspects and the This was probably sufficient to provide the flint working technique which are basis for a self-sufficient population unit. characterized by Danish and North German If South Sweden was permanently finds (Hartz 1987:Fig. 9). A world of forms inhabited, the population may have had local to South Sweden, which also contacts with groups within the Danish area. accommodated deviations in flint technique, However, this does not rule out the possi- cannot be excluded during certain parts of bility that the material culture developed in a the Late Palaeolithic. A reservation of this partially or even very different way than that kind makes our studies noticeably more

Carrent Swedish Arehaeology, Voh 2, l994 Tlre Earliest Settlement in Southern Srveden 175 difficult, although it is hoped that it may also was he who drew attention to the settle- spur us on to make new research efforts. If ment remains in the Finja area. Arne Sjö- this proves to be the case, the best conditions ström was a valued colleague during the for new research efforts are likely to be excavations at Mölleröd, as were Henrik found on the West Coast of Sweden. Phil, Hans Gurstad Nilsson and a large number of archaeological students. The ACKNOWLED GEMENT project work was financed by the Erik I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Philip Sörensen Fund for Genetic and Ingvar Jönsson in Hässleholm. He has Humanistic Research and by the Swedish made a most valuable contribution in tra- Council for Research in the Humanities cing the Late Palaeolithic settlement around and Social Sciences. lake Finjasjön. I also offer my thanks to Fil. Iic. Lennart Carlie for his contribution Tra»slation b& Roger J. Littleboy /Drawingsby to the project, in particular the fact that it Eva Koch

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