Unique Stone Age ceremonial site discovered outside Kristianstad in southern Sweden
Remains of a ceremonial site from the Neolithic period are currently being investigated by archaeologists from the National Historical Museums. The site comprises a causewayed enclosure and wetland offerings dating to 3,500-3,000 BC. Intact ceramic vessels, large quantities of flint tools and well-preserved bone and horn tools are among the remarkable finds material that has been recovered during the excavation.
"The remains and artefacts are very well preserved, which is extremely unusual for a site from this period" says Magnus Artursson, project manager at The Archaeologists, National Historical Museums.
Archaeologists were surprised when they excavated the site in Hammar, east of Kristianstad in the southern Swedish province of Skåne. Wetland deposits had been discovered during the previous evaluation of the site, but further investigation found a dry-stone wall along the edge of the wetland. An astonishing finds assemblage was recovered from the 1-1.2 metre deep wetland deposits, including large quantities of Funnel Beaker pottery, wood, worked flint, and animal bones. Preserved artefacts made of horn and bone are extremely unusual from this period and at Hammar, archaeologists have so far recovered an antler billet for flint knapping, a fishing hook and a stylus for leatherwork.
An even more surprising feature is the contemporary causewayed enclosure lying close to the wetland edge. It is formed of rows of elongated, and up to 1.5 metre deep, pits laid out in a semicircle at the crest of the shallow ridge. Some of the pits were also lined with stones while Funnel Beaker vessels were deliberately deposited in others. Here, the archaeologists have also recovered large amounts of worked flint and animal bones. The structure, with a diameter of 50 metres, is similar to sites outside of Sweden such as the well-known site in Sarup, Denmark.
"These are unique for the Neolithic period in this country. We have discovered a ceremonial complex where people gathered at a certain time or at certain times during the year to celebrate religious festivals. The finds suggest feasts with ritual butchering and deposition of offerings both in the wetland and in the open pits of the enclosure", says Magnus Artursson.
During this period, known as the Funnel Beaker culture, people lived mainly as farmers, growing various crops and keeping animals such as sheep, goats, pigs, and cows. They also hunted and fished. The dead were buried in passage graves or dolmens.
"The first farmers came to Scandinavia around 4,000 BC. We have two passage graves just a few kilometres away from the same period, so they are probably linked."
Due to the cultural historical and scientific significance of the find, the archaeologists are now seeking further funding from the Swedish National Heritage Board to enable them to continue the exciting excavation.
Archaeological period: Early Neolithic II to Middle Neolithic AI-II.
Contact
Magnus Artursson, tel. +46 (0) 76-128 42 37, magnus.artursson@arkeologerna.com
Press: Ninna Bengtsson tel. +46 (0) 10-480 80 76, +46 (0) 702-11 70 92
e-mail: ninna.bengtsson@arkeologerna.com
For high-resolution press photos, please visit the Archaeologists' Newsroom: Archaeologists (cision.com)
More info about the project on the Archaeologists' website (in Swedish): https://arkeologerna.com/uppdrag/hammar/
Arkeologerna
Arkeologerna, Statens historiska museer, Box 5428, 114 84 Stockholm. Tfn 010-480 80 00. www.arkeologerna.com
