- Archaeologist experienced within wetland and underwater field work and in heritage managementedit
In the period 5,300 - 4,900 calibrated years before present (cal. BP), populations across large parts of Europe underwent a period of demographic decline. However, the cause of this so-called Neolithic decline is still debated. Some argue... more
In the period 5,300 - 4,900 calibrated years before present (cal. BP), populations across large parts of Europe underwent a period of demographic decline. However, the cause of this so-called Neolithic decline is still debated. Some argue for an agricultural crisis, others for the spread of an early form of plague. Here we use population-scale ancient genomics to infer ancestry, social structure and pathogen infection in 108 Scandinavian Neolithic individuals from eight megalithic graves and a stone cist. We find that the Neolithic plague was widespread, detected in at least 17% of the sampled population and across large geographical distances. We demonstrate that the disease spread within the Neolithic community in three distinct infection events within a period of around 120 years. Variant graph-based pan-genomics shows that the Neolithic plague genomes retained ancestral genomic variation present in Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, including virulence factors associated with disease outcomes. In addition, we reconstruct four multigeneration pedigrees, the largest of which consists of 38 individuals spanning six generations, showing a patrilineal social organization. Lastly, we document direct genomic evidence for Neolithic female exogamy in a woman buried in a different megalithic tomb than her brothers. Taken together, our findings provide a detailed reconstruction of plague spread within a large patrilineal kinship group and identify multiple plague infections in a population dated to the beginning of the Neolithic decline.
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The world lost vast parts of its habitable territory owing to rising sea level during the Late Glacial and the Early Holocene. The archaeological record and our knowledge of early prehistory must, therefore, be considered highly biased... more
The world lost vast parts of its habitable territory owing to rising sea level during the Late Glacial and the Early Holocene. The archaeological record and our knowledge of early prehistory must, therefore, be considered highly biased and fragmentary as long as large and unique parts of it lay unexplored on the continental shelf. This chapter outlines the special character of this scientific resource in comparison to archaeological material from present-day dry land. Special emphasis is placed on the archaeological evidence from the western Baltic, and a summary of the approaches responsible for the relatively rich record of inundated Stone Age sites known from this region is presented. The ensuing discussion focuses on the current problem of seabed erosion, which is threatening to destroy significant parts of the prehistoric cultural heritage that has been preserved for millennia in the Baltic and possibly other shallow water areas around the world. Suggestions and considerations for the management
and exploration of submerged sites are presented.
and exploration of submerged sites are presented.
Research Interests: Geography, Geology, Cultural Heritage Management, Underwater Archaeology, Settlement archaeology, and 12 moreNeolithic, Mesolithic, Protection of Underwater Cultural Heritage, Denmark, Palaeolithic, In Situ Conservation of Coastal & Underwater Heritage Sites, Underwater Cultural Heritage, Continental shelf, Eelgrass, Fish Weir, Erosion and Climate), and Submerged Prehistory
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Summary The Eurasian Holocene (beginning c. 12 thousand years ago) encompassed some of the most significant changes in human evolution, with far-reaching consequences for the dietary, physical and mental health of present-day populations.... more
Summary The Eurasian Holocene (beginning c. 12 thousand years ago) encompassed some of the most significant changes in human evolution, with far-reaching consequences for the dietary, physical and mental health of present-day populations. Using an imputed dataset of >1600 complete ancient genome sequences, and new computational methods for locating selection in time and space, we reconstructed the selection landscape of the transition from hunting and gathering, to farming and pastoralism across West Eurasia. We identify major selection signals related to metabolism, possibly associated with the dietary shift occurring in this period. We show that the selection on loci such as the FADS cluster, associated with fatty acid metabolism, and the lactase persistence locus, began earlier than previously thought. A substantial amount of selection is also found in the HLA region and other loci associated with immunity, possibly due to the increased exposure to pathogens during the Neolith...
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The Gjerrild burial provides the largest and best-preserved assemblage of human skeletal material presently known from the Single Grave Culture (SGC) in Denmark. For generations it has been debated among archaeologists if the appearance... more
The Gjerrild burial provides the largest and best-preserved assemblage of human skeletal material presently known from the Single Grave Culture (SGC) in Denmark. For generations it has been debated among archaeologists if the appearance of this archaeological complex represents a continuation of the previous Neolithic communities, or was facilitated by incoming migrants. We sampled and analysed five skeletons from the Gjerrild cist, buried over a period of c. 300 years, 2600/2500–2200 cal BCE. Despite poor DNA preservation, we managed to sequence the genome (>1X) of one individual and the partial genomes (0.007X and 0.02X) of another two individuals. Our genetic data document a female (Gjerrild 1) and two males (Gjerrild 5 + 8), harbouring typical Neolithic K2a and HV0 mtDNA haplogroups, but also a rare basal variant of the R1b1 Y-chromosomal haplogroup. Genome-wide analyses demonstrate that these people had a significant Yamnaya-derived (i.e. steppe) ancestry component and a clo...
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SummaryThe transitions from foraging to farming and later to pastoralism in Stone Age Eurasia (c. 11-3 thousand years before present, BP) represent some of the most dramatic lifestyle changes in human evolution. We sequenced 317 genomes... more
SummaryThe transitions from foraging to farming and later to pastoralism in Stone Age Eurasia (c. 11-3 thousand years before present, BP) represent some of the most dramatic lifestyle changes in human evolution. We sequenced 317 genomes of primarily Mesolithic and Neolithic individuals from across Eurasia combined with radiocarbon dates, stable isotope data, and pollen records. Genome imputation and co-analysis with previously published shotgun sequencing data resulted in >1600 complete ancient genome sequences offering fine-grained resolution into the Stone Age populations. We observe that: 1) Hunter-gatherer groups were more genetically diverse than previously known, and deeply divergent between western and eastern Eurasia. 2) We identify hitherto genetically undescribed hunter-gatherers from the Middle Don region that contributed ancestry to the later Yamnaya steppe pastoralists; 3) The genetic impact of the Neolithic transition was highly distinct, east and west of a boundary...
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ABSTRACT The Koelbjerg individual, dated c. 8500 cal BC, represents the earliest human skeletal remains described from Scandinavia. Based on ancient DNA, strontium isotope and statistical anthropological analyses the individual’s sex,... more
ABSTRACT The Koelbjerg individual, dated c. 8500 cal BC, represents the earliest human skeletal remains described from Scandinavia. Based on ancient DNA, strontium isotope and statistical anthropological analyses the individual’s sex, haplogroup and geographical provenance are here analysed and discussed. In contrast to previous claims, our genetic and anthropological analyses show that this individual was a male. Additionally, the strontium isotope ratio of one of his first molars indicates that he most likely grew up locally.
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Abstract In this paper the authors outline their response to the analysis presented in Coles 2004.
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La presence de haches perforees danubiennes dans des sites de la culture EBK, en particulier le site ertebollien de Store Amose, indique des relations commerciales entre ces deux cultures. Consequences sur l'introduction de... more
La presence de haches perforees danubiennes dans des sites de la culture EBK, en particulier le site ertebollien de Store Amose, indique des relations commerciales entre ces deux cultures. Consequences sur l'introduction de l'economie neolithique au Danemark.
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Here we present the stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen measured in bone collagen extracted from humans, dogs, herbivores and fish from Mesolithic and Neolithic coastal and inland sites in Denmark. Bones of freshwater fish from... more
Here we present the stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen measured in bone collagen extracted from humans, dogs, herbivores and fish from Mesolithic and Neolithic coastal and inland sites in Denmark. Bones of freshwater fish from several Early Mesolithic lake-side sites have dC values surprisingly similar to those seen in marine fish. We propose a model, based on dC and dN, for the correction for both marine and hard water reservoir effect in radiocarbon dates. A strong reliance on aquatic protein is demonstrated for the Mesolithic inhabitants of the region from the middle of the Early Mesolithic onwards. A significant part of the protein in the diets of the dogs and humans from the Middle and Late Mesolithic was of marine origin, even at inland sites. This observation points to a high degree of (seasonal) coast-inland mobility. The isotopic evidence indicates that during the Neolithic small quantities of aquatic foods were still common sources of dietary protein. ! 2007 Else...
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For sewing up a surgical opening (32), an instrument (10) is provided to be introduced thereinto. Needle holders (19), having needles (25) attached thereon, are laterally extended out of the instrument (10). By raising the instrument... more
For sewing up a surgical opening (32), an instrument (10) is provided to be introduced thereinto. Needle holders (19), having needles (25) attached thereon, are laterally extended out of the instrument (10). By raising the instrument (10), the needles (25) are pierced through the cutaneous tissue (33) from the inside to the outside while the thread (30) passing through the needles (25) forms a loop within the patient's body. A needle catcher (26) is used for withdrawing the needles (25) out of the patient's body, the needles (25) being released from the needle holders (19). Finally, the thread loop can be tied into a knot above the surgical opening (32) outside the patient's body.
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Ceramic containers, intentionally deposited into wetlands, offer detailed insights into Early Neolithic culinary practices. Additionally, they are key for ascertaining the Neolithisation process in Denmark since they appear to form a... more
Ceramic containers, intentionally deposited into wetlands, offer detailed insights into Early Neolithic culinary practices. Additionally, they are key for ascertaining the Neolithisation process in Denmark since they appear to form a typo-chronological sequence. Here, we use a combination of organic residue analysis (ORA) of pottery alongside Bayesian chronological modelling of the radiocarbon dates obtained on these vessels to explore the initial stages of votive deposition in wetlands, a practice that stretches from the Mesolithic to the onset of Christianity in Northern Europe. We consider 34 Early-Middle Neolithic (c. 3900–2350 cal BC) ‘bog pots’ from Denmark, of which 20 have ORA data, and 26 have been dated directly. Carbonised surface residues and absorbed lipids from powdered sherds were analysed using a combination of bulk carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and GC-combustion-isotope ratio MS (GC-CIRMS). The molecular an...
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The Nekselø Wickerwork provides an unusually solid estimate on the marine reservoir age in the Holocene. The basis for this result is a 5200-year-old fish weir, built of hazel wood with a brief biological age of its own. Oysters settled... more
The Nekselø Wickerwork provides an unusually solid estimate on the marine reservoir age in the Holocene. The basis for this result is a 5200-year-old fish weir, built of hazel wood with a brief biological age of its own. Oysters settled on this construction. They had lived only for a short number of years when the fence capsized and was covered in mud and the mollusks suffocated. Based on the difference in radiocarbon (14C) age between accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) samples of oyster shells and wood, respectively, the marine reservoir age for this site is estimated to 273 ± 18 14C years. Re-evaluations of previously produced data from geological and archaeological sites of Holocene date in the Danish archipelago indicate marine reservoir ages in the same order as that of the Wickerwork. Consequently, we recommend the use of the new value, rather than the ca. 400 14C years hitherto favored, when correcting for the dietary induced reservoir effect in radiocarbon dates of humans a...
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Cosquer Cave disappeared below the waves around the close of the ice age. The paintings and engravings in figurative and geometric styles on its walls prompt associations with the interior of spectacularly furnished churches. Among the... more
Cosquer Cave disappeared below the waves around the close of the ice age. The paintings and engravings in figurative and geometric styles on its walls prompt associations with the interior of spectacularly furnished churches. Among the motives depicted are human hands, male and female genitalia, horses, ibex and great auks
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The Rødhals kitchen midden was located on a tiny stretch of land 18 km from the nearest major landmass in present-day Denmark. It dates to the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, roughly 4300 to 3700 cal BC. Its inhabitants practiced a... more
The Rødhals kitchen midden was located on a tiny stretch of land 18 km from the nearest major landmass in present-day Denmark. It dates to the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, roughly 4300 to 3700 cal BC. Its inhabitants practiced a remarkably broad-scale exploitation of marine resources spanning from the collecting of mollusks on the seashore , over open-sea fowling and deep-water angling to the killing of small whales. The sparse traces of terrestrial diet are mainly from cattle, sheep, pig and cereals dating to a late stage of the habitation. Strategic raw materials of bone and antler from large forest game were only occasionally imported from across the sea. In terms of artefact types and production modes, the material culture of Rødhals represents the ultimate stage of the local fisher-hunter-gatherer Ertebølle Culture and an initial stage of the farming-based Funnel Beaker Culture. The extreme marine adaptation seen at this site may reflect a historically extraordinary situation, where an indigenous population of foragers had lost major parts of its territory to immigrant farmers. Appendixes on: Excavations, 14C dates, cultural affiliation, faunal remains analyses, plant remains
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The Rødhals kitchen midden was located on a tiny stretch of land 18 km from the nearest major landmass in present-day Denmark. It dates to the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, roughly 4300 to 3700 cal BC. Its inhabitants practiced a... more
The Rødhals kitchen midden was located on a tiny stretch of land 18 km from the nearest major landmass in present-day Denmark. It dates to the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, roughly 4300 to 3700 cal BC. Its inhabitants practiced a remarkably broad-scale exploitation of marine resources spanning from the collecting of mollusks on the sea-shore, over open-sea fowling and deep-water angling to the killing of small whales. The sparse traces of terrestrial diet are mainly from cattle, sheep, pig and cereals dating to a late stage of the habitation. Strategic raw materials of bone and antler from large forest game were only occasionally imported from across the sea. In terms of artefact types and production modes, the material culture of Rødhals represents the ultimate stage of the local fisher-hunter-gatherer Ertebølle Culture and an initial stage of the farming-based Funnel Beaker Culture. The extreme marine adaptation seen at this site may reflect a historically extraordinary situation, where an indigenous population of foragers had lost major parts of its territory to immigrant farmers.
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Farming transformed societies globally. Yet, despite more than a century of research, there is little consensus on the speed or completeness of this fundamental change and, consequently, on its principal drivers. For Northern Europe, the... more
Farming transformed societies globally. Yet, despite more than a century of research, there is little consensus on the speed or completeness of this fundamental change and, consequently, on its principal drivers. For Northern Europe, the debate has often ...
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Radiocarbon dates of food residue on pottery from northern European inland areas seem to be influenced significantly by the freshwater reservoir effect ("hardwater" effect) stemming from fish and mollusks cooked in the pots. Bones of... more
Radiocarbon dates of food residue on pottery from northern European inland areas seem to be influenced significantly by the freshwater reservoir effect ("hardwater" effect) stemming from fish and mollusks cooked in the pots. Bones of freshwater fish from Stone Age Åmose, Denmark, are demonstrated to be 100 to 500 14 C yr older than their archaeological context. Likewise, food residues on cooking pots, seemingly used for the preparation of freshwater fish, are shown to have 14 C age excesses of up to 300 yr. It is probable that age excesses of similar or even larger magnitude are involved in food residue dates from other periods and regions. Since this effect cannot, so far, be quantified and corrected for, 14 C dating of food residue, which may potentially include material from freshwater ecosystems, should be treated with reserve.
Research Interests: Pottery (Archaeology), Mesolithic Archaeology, Neolithic Archaeology, Radiocarbon Dating (Earth Sciences), Funnel Beaker Culture, and 8 moreDenmark, Radiocarbon Dating (Archaeology), Radiocarbon Reservoir Effects, Fish Bones, Neolithization, Food Remains In Archaeology, Ertebølle Culture, and Aamose
The Nekselø Wickerwork provides an unusually solid estimate on the marine reservoir age in the Holocene. The basis for this result is a 5200-year-old fish weir, built of hazel wood with a brief biological age of its own. Oysters settled... more
The Nekselø Wickerwork provides an unusually solid estimate on the marine reservoir age in the Holocene. The basis for this result is a 5200-year-old fish weir, built of hazel wood with a brief biological age of its own. Oysters settled on this construction. They had lived only for a short number of years when the fence capsized and was covered in mud and the mollusks suffocated. Based on the difference in radiocarbon (14 C) age between accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) samples of oyster shells and wood, respectively, the marine reservoir age for this site is estimated to 273 ± 18 14 C years. Re-evaluations of previously produced data from geological and archaeological sites of Holocene date in the Danish archipelago indicate marine reservoir ages in the same order as that of the Wickerwork. Consequently, we recommend the use of the new value, rather than the ca. 400 14 C years hitherto favored, when correcting for the dietary induced reservoir effect in radiocarbon dates of humans and animals from the Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic periods of this region.
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Numerous settlements from the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic have been located and test excavated in the Aamose, which is the largest mire in Zealand, Denmark. The sites are rich in faunal remains and artifacts of wood and plant material.... more
Numerous settlements from the Mesolithic and Early Neolithic have been located and test excavated in the Aamose, which is the largest mire in Zealand, Denmark. The sites are rich in faunal remains and artifacts of wood and plant material. Aiming at long-lasting in situ preservation nature restauration of the area is in preparation. The paper presents examples of finds from field work in the early 1980s such as artwork, food remains and votive pottery.
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Off the island of Nekselø, Denmark remains of >200 m long Neolithic fish weirs are exposed by erosion. These wooden structures have lain well-preserved beneath marine sediments for 5000 years. They demonstrate that the riches of the... more
Off the island of Nekselø, Denmark remains of >200 m long Neolithic fish weirs are exposed by erosion. These wooden structures have lain well-preserved beneath marine sediments for 5000 years. They demonstrate that the riches of the aquatic environment were by no means forgotten when people became farmers. Wood anatomical studies of the weirs show that the population responsible for the Nekselø structures were competent woodland managers. The perfectly straight-grown building materials are a result of coppicing, involving repeated felling of areas of hazel woodland at 7-10-year intervals. In their construction and choice of materials, the structures have much in common with wooden eel weirs that, in historical time, were erected along Danish coasts and harvested effectively of the mass migration of this species on its way to the breeding ground in the Atlantic Ocean.
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Holmegaard mire in East Denmark has a rich archaeological record from the Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic. It includes several settlement sites, the excavation of which have produced rich assemblages of bone and artefacts in wood,... more
Holmegaard mire in East Denmark has a rich archaeological record from the Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic. It includes several settlement sites, the excavation of which have produced rich assemblages of bone and artefacts in wood, antler, etc. In the 1970s intensive field reconnaissance was undertaken of the area, focusing on lithic assemblage composition and the size and topographical location of sites.
'Kontaktstencil' 15, Umeå 1978.
'Kontaktstencil' 15, Umeå 1978.
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Submerged sites probably comprise the greater part of the Mesolithic and Late Palaeolithic coastal habitation of present-day Denmark. The paper takes stock of the underwater archaeological work carried out so far and describes the... more
Submerged sites probably comprise the greater part of the Mesolithic and Late Palaeolithic coastal habitation of present-day Denmark. The paper takes stock of the underwater archaeological work carried out so far and describes the immediate needs for documentation and salvage excavation with respect to Stone Age settlements on the Danish sea floor. The paper is in Danish; with captions and a summary in English.
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Three persons produced the ca. 23.000 flint flakes of the Late Glacial Trollesgave site. Two of these individuals can be distinguished clearly. Their products express mastery and childishness respectively. The lithic waste products of the... more
Three persons produced the ca. 23.000 flint flakes of the Late Glacial Trollesgave site. Two of these individuals can be distinguished clearly. Their products express mastery and childishness respectively. The lithic waste products of the latter two persons are primarily found in two heaps. These represent the workshops of two individuals, located face to face at a distance of app. 2 m. Refitting of flints forms the core of this interpretation. This method has also contributed to the understanding of the flint technology, the site formation and the internal organization of the site. The distribution of scrapers, burins and tanged points and the presence of a hearth and a dwelling structure add further light to the understanding of the site. It belongs to the Bromme technocomplex and existed during the relatively mild climate stage of the Allerød period app. 11,100 uncalibrated 14C years BP.
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Vast coastal plains that vanished below the waves thousands of years ago were highways to new territories and a cornucopia of natural riches for early humankind. Oceans of Archaeology presents these virtually unexplored parts of the... more
Vast coastal plains that vanished below the waves thousands of years ago were highways to new territories and a cornucopia of natural riches for early humankind. Oceans of Archaeology presents these virtually unexplored parts of the archaeological world map. It scrutinises the submerged early prehistory of Europe and the eastern Mediterranean, and reveals a richness and diversity unmatched around the globe.
Specialists from ten countries join forces to tell of flooded settlements, enigmatic sacred places, amazing art and skillful navigation. Multifarious traces of food preparation, flint-working, hunting and fishing vividly illustrate Stone Age daily life. While children’s footprints lead the way to new investigations of early prehistoric life in these now inundated landscapes.
Specialists from ten countries join forces to tell of flooded settlements, enigmatic sacred places, amazing art and skillful navigation. Multifarious traces of food preparation, flint-working, hunting and fishing vividly illustrate Stone Age daily life. While children’s footprints lead the way to new investigations of early prehistoric life in these now inundated landscapes.
Research Interests: Palaeolithic Archaeology, Mesolithic Archaeology, Stable Isotopes, Food and Nutrition, Neolithic Archaeology, and 18 moreArchaeology of Caves and Caverns (Archaeospeleology), Underwater Archaeology, Lithic Technology (Archaeology), Mediterranean Underwater Archaeology, Settlement archaeology, Archaeological Excavation, Boat Building, Submerged landscapes and settlements, Scuba Diving, Scientific Diving, Ancient Fishing, Radiocarbon Dating (Archaeology), Fishing Technology, History of Navigation, Neolithization, Submerged Prehistoric Archaeology, Cultural Heritae Management, and Wild/Indigenous & Traditional Food Plants
Ca. 25,000 flint artifacts from the Late Paleolithic Trollesgave site was run through a process of refitting. According to weight around half of the material has be conjoined. From the horizontal distribution and technical quality of... more
Ca. 25,000 flint artifacts from the Late Paleolithic Trollesgave site was run through a process of refitting. According to weight around half of the material has be conjoined. From the horizontal distribution and technical quality of products two individuals emerge: a skilled and an untrained one. The refitting affords an opportunity ‘to look over the shoulder’ of these two individuals and follow their work step by step, learning to know their manual abilities as well as their mentality in terms of craftmanship and resource economy. Two clusters of workshop debris, located 1½ m apart, represent a training situation comprising master and pupil. The flint working technique taught was an expedient one, clearly adapted to the abundance of flint experienced by the Broome Culture pioneer inhabitants of the south Scandinavian young moraines.