Human skeletal material from the Mesolithic site of Ageröd I:HC, Scania, Southern Sweden

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Human skeletal material from the Mesolithic site of Ageröd I:HC, Scania, Southern Sweden

Larsson, Lars

Fornvännen 76, 161-168

http://kulturarvsdata.se/raa/fornvannen/html/1981_161

Ingår i: samla.raa.se

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H u m a n Skeletal Material

from the Mesolithic Site of Ageröd I:HC, Scania, Southern Sweden

By Lars Larsson, Christopher Meiklejohn and Raymond R. Newell

Larsson, L., Meiklejohn, C. & Newell, R. R. Human Skeletal Material from the Mesolithic Site of Ageröd I:HC, Scania, Southern Sweden. (Skelettdelar av människa från den mesolitiska boplatsen Ageröd I:HC, Skåne.) Fornvän- nen 76. Stockholm.

At the site Ageröd I:HC, dated to the Late Maglemose Culture, five human bones have been found. Their position in relation to the stratigraphy as well as to other remains is presented. The bones, which all probably come from a late adolescent or adult, are described and compared to other human bones from Mesolithic settlements in Seandinavia.

Lars Larsson, Lunds Universitets Historiska Museum, Krafts torg 1, S-223 50 Lund, Sweden.

Christopher Meiklejohn, Department of Anthropology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, Canada

Raymond R. Newell, Biologisch-Archaeologisch Instituut, Rijksuniversiteit, Poststraat 6, 9712 ER Groningen, The Netherlands.

T h e present note is concemed with the de- scription of the few h u m a n bones recovered from the site of Ageröd I : H C , a bog site in Scania, southern Sweden. Their being reported at this time stems from work involved in a critical inventory of h u m a n skeletal material from Mesolithic sites in Western Europé

(Newell et al., 1979).

T h e site was discovered in 1938. It was subsequently excavated between 1946 and 1949, during which time four previously un- reported human bones were recovered (Al- thin, 1947, 1954). Excavations were conti- nued on this site between 1972 and 1974.

and yielded a further h u m a n bone (Larsson.

1978, pp. 144 ff.). T h e associated remains clearly identify the site as a series of summer camp occupations from the Maglemose culture. T h e h u m a n bones recovered were associated with cultural debris contained in or on top of a 15 cm thick white coloured layer

containing waterlain sand and gravel as well as sandstone house floorings. Except for one, the bones are all in association with the localized White Layer, which is sealed and un- disturbed and appears to delimit the area of probably three huts. O n e of the bones, bone A, lies in the U p p e r Peat overlaying the White Layer and is sealed from above by 30 cm of peat deposit.

T h e site has been dated by two means.

Pollen analysis of the White Layer has in- dicated that it dates to a late phase of the Late Boreal Period (c. 8000-8500 B. P.; Nils- son, 1967, p p . 17 ff.). This age has been confirmed by C-14 determinations ranging from 5960 ± 80 L u - 7 5 3 to 5270 ± 70 B.C.

L u - 8 7 2 (regular halflife of 5570 years). T h e U p p e r Peat could not be pollen analysed because of the serious destruetion of the pollen. C-14 dates from this layer ranges from 5860 ± 80 B.C. L u - 1 0 0 6 to 5520 ± 80 B.C.

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162 Larsson, Meiklejohn & Newell

AGERÖD f-HC WL

| 2 | 2 | 2

LTLT]

ffl

a:

I I

AGERÖD hHC UP

1 3 4

' J i

6 1 2 2

2TTTT1

m

T T

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Fig. 1. Plans showing the distribution of the human bones in the White Layer (above) and the Upper Peat (below). The figures mark the number of narrow microliths per square meter. A dark frame of the square meter marks one find of human bone while a filled square marks two bone finds. - Plan över för- delningen av människoben i Vita Lagret och Övre Torven. Siffrorna markerar antalet fynd av smala mikroliter per kvadratmeter. Svart inramning av en kvadratmeter markerar ett fynd av människoben medan en helsvart kvadratmeter markerar tvä benfynd.

L u - 9 1 5 (Larsson, 1978, p . 150). With some exceptions, the finds from the White Layer and U p p e r Peat agree with related materials from Zealand in Denmark (Brinch Petersen, 1973; Larsson, 1978. pp. 154 ff.).

The human skeletal material

T h e distribution of the h u m a n bones is shown in Fig. 1. T h e excavated areas of the White Layer and the U p p e r Peat are just smaller parts of the settlement having a size of ca.

6 5 x 7 m. In the excavated areas c o n c r d e evidence as well as indications of the exi- stence of several hut construetions is documented. In one case, in the westernmost part of the U p p e r Peat, it is established by a stone-setting with post-holes close to the con-

tour (Larsson, 1975, p p . 12 ff.). T h e number of microliths per square meter is also shown in Fig. 1. In connection with the stone pave- ment, as in other parts of the layers, there are concentrations of narrow microliths. T h e h u m a n bones of both layers seem to be connected to such concentrations of microliths and thereby can be demonstrated to be associated with a former hut construction.

Special interest must be shown to the distribution of the h u m a n bones in the eastern part of the White Layer. Here two bones, B and D, were found in the same square meter while bone E can also be connected with the same plausible h u t construction. Because of their distribution, the three bones might have belonged to the same person. T o make any

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Fig. 2. Human bones found at the site Ageröd I. - Människobenen frän Age- röd I.

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Fig. 3. X-ray photograph of the diaphysis of bone A.

Note especially the dark- ened area lateral to the draining sinus, indicating secondary reactive bone growth. - Röntgenfotografi av diaphysdelen av ben A.

Observera det mörka om- rådet runt fördjupningen som indikerar sekundär till- växt av benvävnad.

condusion about their relation to a plausible burial is too uncertain considering the restric- ted find material, although disturbed Mesoli- thic burials have been documented on sites further afield.

None of the bones can be identified as being from children's skeletons. T w o of the piéces may be male on the basis of robusticity.

Accurate assessment of age is not possible.

All appear to be indeterminate late adolescent or adult.

Bone A was recovered from the U p p e r Peat, in contact with the underlying White Layer. It is composed of three reconstruct- able piéces, which together make up the distal half of a right humerus. (Fig 2 A ) . T o - tal length of the reconstructed fragment is 25.3 cm. In general, the bone is in good con- dition, though with slight destruetion of the distal epiphysis, especially the trochlea. T h e central diaphysis of this bone shows evidence of an apparent draining sore with secondary reactive bone growth around the borders of the draining sinus. Away from the secondary growth, the bone shows evidence of osteopo- rosis, i.e. porosity due to bone destruetion.

This pattern is clearly visible in the radio- graph of the bone (Fig. 3 ) . Examination of the bone suggests that the infeded area was related to the point of insertion of musculus deltoideus, as result of injury. Apparently the injury had not healed at the time of death, assuming that the arm had not been amputated.

Bone B from the Wite Layer consists of the proximal threequartcrs of a left ulna. T h e length of the fragment is 24.8 cm (Fig. 2 B ) . In the course of preservation there has been

slight localized destruetion. T h e proximal epiphysis shows slight arthritic lipping. T h e quite robust nature of the bone suggests that the piece was from an adult male individual.

Bone C from the White Layer is the proximal half of a left radius showing slight post- mortem destruetion of the proximal head.

Length of the fragment is 15.8 cm (Fig. 2 C ) . T h e bone is also quite robust, though not as noticeably as bone B. An adult male is also suggested.

Bone D from the White Layer is a fragment of the central diaphyseal shaft of the right femur. Length of the fragment is 24.1 cm (Fig 2 D ) . T h e fragmentary nature of the piece makes it difficult to diagnosc whether a discontinuity in the line of the shaft is the result of fraduring or of other causes.

Bone E from the White Layer is a tarsal bone. T h e length of the bone is 3.7 cm.

Discussion

T h e skeletal material reported here has little intrinsic anthropological value. However, in the light of the survey of h u m a n skeletal material in Mesolithic contexts in Western Europé mentioned in the introduction, these piéces fit into a gradually emerging picture of the disposal of the dead, other than in the form of ritual burial.

T h e site of Ageröd I : H C joins a considcr- able list of Mesolithic sites in Seandinavia which have yielded scattered h u m a n bones within the context of occupation deposits. In Sweden these include Arlöv I, Segebro and Rotekärrslid. T h e full list of those that are considered to be reliably dated to the Meso-

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Table I. Human skeletal material recovered from Mesolithic sites in Sweden, Norway and Denmark, other than obviously intentional burials. — Skelettdelar från människa vilka påträffats pä mesolitiska boplatser i Sverige, Norge och Danmark och som inte tillhör gravar.

Site SWEDEN Ari öv I Rotekärrslid Segebro NORWAY Skipshelleren D E N M A R K Bergmansdal

Bloksbjerg Brabrand Brovst Flynderhage Henriksholm Holmegaard-Jutland Kolind

Lundby I Meilgaard Mullerup I Syd Nivaagaard

Norsminde Solager

Svaerdborg I 1917 Svaerdborg I 1921

Tybrind Vig Vinde Helsinge

Bone(s) recovered

calotte frag.

phalanx cranial frags.

carpal, astragalus

carpal. metatarsal

calotte, scapula, humerus, ulna, femora, tibia, fibula, mandible calotte, mandible calotte, radius, ulna + ? 2 cranial frags.

rib, calotte, femur, ulna, talus calvarium + ? scattered bones tibia, radius calotte

frontal, femur, radius

metacarpal, femur, mandible

ulnae, fibula, metacarpals, meta- tarsals, cranial frags.

cranial frags.

mandible cranium calotte, base, face, mandible, vertebrae, sternum, ribs, humeri, ulnae, radii, metacarpals, femora, tibiae, metatarsal, phalanges cranial frags, mandible ulna, phalanx

Period

Late Kongemose Late Mesolithic Kongemose

Late Mesolithic 4000/4300 B.C.

Dyrholm I - I I

Dyrholm 11 Dyrholm II Dyrholm 11 Dyrholm II Dyrholm I Dyrholm II Dyrholm I Maglemose Dyrholm II Maglemose Kongemose or Ertebölle Dyrholm II Dyrholm II Maglemose Maglemose

Dyrholm II Maglemose

Source"

Unpubl.

Alin, 1935 Larsson, 1982

Indrelid, 1978

Unpubl.

Mathiassen ct al., 1942

Unpubl.

Arnborg, 1925 Nielsen, 1921 Unpubl.

Unpubl.

Nielsen, 1921

Unpubl.

Mathiassen et al., 1943

Sources given are those with reference to the human remains. Complete archaeological references can be found in Newell et al., 1979.

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lithic is given in Table I. Sites with dental elements only are not given, nor are isolated dental elements themselves, since their pre- sence in archaeological sites can be inter- preted in ways not propriate to bones from the rest of the skeleton. T h e following brief comments are made in anticipation of a more complete analysis of Mesolithic burial prac- tices by two of the authors (Newell et al., in p r e p . ) .

T h e accompanying Table I lists 22 sites with scattered h u m a n remains in addition to the site of Ageröd. In another study an exhaustive list of Mesolithic sites containing faunal remains has been colleded (Newell &

Andersen, n.d.). Of fifty-nine Scandinavian sites with faunal remains twenty-two are in- cluded in the list with scattered h u m a n remains, a figure of 37.3 percent. T h u s , a significant proportion of sites within which faunal remains are preserved also contains h u m a n bones. From this it may be suggested that such scattered remains are not simply a remnant of disturbed primary burials. At this point it seems unsafe to ascribe these remains to cannibalism. We can simply suggest that either certain individuals were not accorded primary ritual burial such as is well documented at a few Scandinavian sites, e.g. Bogebakken and Skateholm (Albrdhsen

& Brinch Petersen, 1976; Larsson, 1980, 1981), or that some unknown burial p r a d i c e s may have involved sufficient destruetion of the body prior to burial that piéces were löst.

There is no evidence that these piéces were themselves accorded any special treatment.

Further examination of Table I indicates that there is an amount of body parts represented in the finds listed. Both cranial and post- cranial remains are present, and in the latter category bones from both the upper and lower extremities. It is significant, however, that there is no evidence of bones representing the trunk or either shoulder or pelvic girdle.

This would appear to add weight to our ar- gument that the remains are not simply the result of the disturbance of already interred burials.

However, it is also true that these same missing skeletal elements are the least massive

and the weakest strudurally so that they are the most prone to destruetion by the same taphonomic processes which account for the fragmentary nature of the extant sample.

Finally, there is a prima facie case for suggesting that such remains are more com- mon in Ertebölle culture than in earlier contexts. However, there is a very heavy bias in site number representation, in all likdihood related to the process of postglacial eustatic sea level change (Newell & Andersen, n . d . ) . In condusion, the scattered h u m a n remains from Ageröd I :HC are representative of a pattern of distribution of such bones found to be relatively frequent during the Meso- lithic period. Preliminary analysis suggests that the pattern is not accidental.

This short paper stems from a visit by two of us ( C M . , R.R.N) to Lunds Universitets Historiska Museum as part of the foremen- tioned project on Mesolithic h u m a n skeletal remains. O n e of us ( C M . ) would like to acknowledge the receipt of a C a n a d a Coun- cil Leave Fellowship that permitted exten- sive work in Europé during the académie year 1977—78.

References

Albrethsen, S. E. & Brinch Petersen, E. 1976. Ex- eavation of a Mesolithic Cemetery at Vedback, Denmark. Acta Archaeologica 47.

Alin, J. 1935. En bohusländsk kökkenmödding på Roteskärrslid, Dragsmark. Göteborgs och Bo- husläns Fornminnesförenings Tidskrift 1935.

Althin, C.-A. 1947. Agerödsutgrävningarna. Under- sökningar av mesolitiska boplatser i Skäne:

1946—47. Fornvännen 42.

— 1954. The Chronology of the Stone Age Settle- ment of Scania, Sweden. I. The Mesolithic Settlement. Acta Archaeologica Lundensia Ser. 4°, 1. Lund.

Arnborg, J. 1925. Underkäksfragment och lösa tän- der av människor från Danmarks äldsta sten- ålder. Videnskabs Meddelelser Dansk Natur- historisk Förening 80.

Brinch Petersen, E. 1973. A Survey of the Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic of Denmark. In Kozlowski, S. K., ed., The Mesolithic in Europé. Warsaw.

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Indrelid, S. 1978. Mesolithic economy and settlement in Norway. In Mellars, P. A., ed., The Mesolithic Settlement of Northern Europé.

London.

Larsson, L. 1975. A Contribulion to the Knowledge of Mesolithic Huts in Southern Seandinavia.

Meddelanden från Lunds universitets historiska museum 1973—1974.

— 1978. Ageröd I:B-Ageröd I:D. A Study of Early Atlantic Settlement in Scania. Acta Archaelogica Lundensia Ser. in 4 ° , 12. Lund.

— 1980. Stenåldersjägarnas boplats och gravar vid Skateholm. Limhamniana 1980.

— 1981. En 7000-årig sydkustboplats. Nytt om gammalt från Skateholm. Limhamniana 1981.

— 1982. Segebro. En tidigatlantisk boplats vid Sege ås mynning. Malmöfynd 4.

Mathiassen, T., Degerbol, M. & Troels-Smith, J.

1942. Dyrholmen en stenalderboplads på Djurs- land. Det Kongl. Danske Videnskabernes Sel- skab. Arkaologisk-Kunsthistoriske Skrifter, Bind I, Nr. 1.

Mathiassen, T. 1943. Stenaldersbopladser i Aa- mosen. Nordiske Fortidsminder I I I , 3.

Newell, R. R. & Andersen, S. H. (n.d.). A Meso- lithic Fish Story.

Newell, R. R., Constandse-Westermann, T. S. &

Meiklejohn, C. 1979. The Skeletal Remains of Mesolithic Man in Western Europé: an Eva- luative Catalogue. Journal of Human Evolu- tion, Vol. 8, No. 1.

Newell, R. R., Constandse-Westermann, T. S. &

Meiklejohn, C , in prep. The mortuary Prac- lices of the Mesolithic Societies of Western Europé.

Nielsen, H. A. 1921. Fund i Svaerdborg og Mulle- rup Moser af skcletdele af mennesker fra den aeldste stenålder. Aarbeger for Nordisk Old- kyndighed og Historie.

Nilsson, T . 1967. Pollenanalytische Datierungen mesolithischer Siedlungen im Randgebiet des Ageröds Mosse im mittleren Schonen. Acta Universitatis Lundensis See. I I , 16.

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Skelettdelar av människa från den mesolitiska boplatsen Ageröd I: HC, Skåne

Vid arkeologiska undersökningar under slutet av 1940-talet och början av 1970-talet på- träffades ben från människa i boplatsen Age- röd I : H C som tillhör den senare delen av Maglemosekulturen. Benen härrör från två fyndlager — Vita Lagret och ö v r e Torven — vilka utgör de översta fyndhorisontema inom boplatsen. Fyra ben framkom i Vita Lagret och ett i ö v r e Torven. En jämförelse mellan fördelningen av smala mikroliter och män- niskoben i respektive lager visar att benen påträffats invid eller i partier där mikroli- terna är som talrikast. Dessa partier har tol- kats som hyddbottnar efter små säsongsbo- sättningar. T r e av människobenen framkom inom samma hyddområde. Benen, därav två från män, tillhör personer i övre tonåren eller vuxna. Fyndet från ö v r e Torven utgöres av ungefär halva distala partiet av ett höger överarmsben. Invid den fragmentariska än- den finns en skada med spår efter en läk- ningsprocess som inte hade avslutats då indi- viden avled. Fynden från Vita Lagret utgö-

res av ett vänster armbågsben, ett vänster strålben, ett höger lårben och ett vristben samtliga i fragmentariskt tillstånd.

Fynden från Ageröd ger tillsammans med liknande fynd från andra boplatser viktig kunskap om behandlingen av de döda som inte begravdes. I tjugotvå mesolitiska boplatser i Sverige ( 3 ) , Norge (1) och Dan- mark (18) har ben av människa påträffats.

Dessa boplatser utgör drygt en tredjedel av samtliga mesolitiska boplatser i Skandinavien med osteologiskt material bevarat. Dessa människoben härrör sannolikt inte från för- störda gravar och några säkra spår av kanni- balism har inte heller konstaterats. Genom fördelningen av skelettdelar framgår dock att skulderpartiet, bålen och bäckenpartiet sak- nas bland människobenen i boplatslagren.

Flertalet människoben har påträffats i boplatser från Erteböllekulturen men detta kan bero på att fyndplatser från denna tid är överrepresenterade bland boplatser med bevarat organiskt material.