Blankholm/Early Economy and Settlement, 3. Large Mesolithic House – Pits at Tønsnes, Coastal Northern Norway

Resource added
How to Cite: Gjerde, Jan Magne; Skandfer, Marianne. Large Mesolithic House – Pits at Tønsnes, Coastal Northern Norway: Evidence of a Winter Aggregation Site?. Early Economy and Settlement in Northern Europe - Pioneering, Resource Use, Coping with Change. Equinox eBooks Publishing, United Kingdom. p. 59-76 May 2018. ISBN 9781781795170.

Full description

In 2008-2012 rescue excavations undertaken in conjunction with preparations for a new industrial harbour revealed Stone Age settlements at Tønsnes, Tromsø, in a number hitherto unparalleled in this part of northern Norway. The earliest settlements date to Preboreal times. Most surprisingly was the finding of five house-pits dating to between c.8000 and 7000 BP (c. 7000 and 6000 cal. BC), i.e., within the last part of the Pioneer phase as defined in this volume. The house-pits are much larger than generally seen among Middle Mesolithic houses in Scandinavia, and display variation, but also clear similarities to the latter in dwelling - landscape-relations, in layout (semi-subterranean floor areas, wall-banks and a lack of hearths) and in settlement practices (indoor vs. outdoor activities). Based on this new material we discuss seasonality in mobility and residency in Early Stone Age/Mesolithic northern Norway.

Download image “Blankholm/Early Economy and Settlement, 3. Large Mesolithic House – Pits at Tønsnes, Coastal Northern Norway”
  • type
    Image
  • created on
  • file format
    jpg
  • file size
    180 KB
  • container title
    Early Economy and Settlement in Northern Europe: Pioneering, Resource Use, Coping with Change
  • creator
    Jan Magne Gjerde; Marianne Skandfer
  • isbn
    9781781796054 (eBook)
  • publisher
    Equinox Publishing Ltd.
  • publisher place
    Sheffield, United Kingdom
  • rights holder
    Equinox Publishing Ltd.
  • series title
    The Early Settlement of Northern Europe
  • volume
    3
  • doi