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Hunting High and Low: Postglacial Colonization Strategies in Central Norway between 9500 and 8000 cal BC

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Heidi M. Breivik  and
Martin Callanan
Heidi M. Breivik*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, NTNU University Museum, Trondheim, Norway
Martin Callanan*
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology and Cultural History, NTNU University Museum, Trondheim, Norway
*
[email: heidi.breivik@ntnu.no]
[email: martin.callanan@ntnu.no]
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Abstract

In this article, we examine aspects of the Postglacial colonization processes that took place in central Norway during the Early Mesolithic (c. 9500–8000 cal bc). The distribution of sites from this period shows that the colonizers approached and exploited two very different landscapes and resource situations—from archipelagic to alpine. Based on twelve artefact assemblages from central Norway we investigate how colonizing populations met the challenge posed by varying ecozones. Did they organize their settlements and technologies in similar ways or did they modify sites and activities in relation to the different locations? The aspects studied are site organization, artefact composition, projectiles, and lithic raw material use. It appears that the sites are of a similar size and structure across ecozones. Apart from some variations in tool composition, there is no evidence in the lithic material for any technical adaptation towards specific ecozones. We conclude that using a standard, generalized lithic technology, combined with high mobility and small group size, enabled the colonizing groups to overcome the risks and difficulties associated with settling and seeking out resources in new and unknown landscapes.

Cet article considère certains aspects du processus de colonisation postglaciaire qui eut lieu en Norvège centrale au début du Mésolithique, entre environ 9500 et 8000 cal BC. La distribution géographique des sites indique que les nouveaux arrivants ont colonisé et exploité une contrée avec des ressources et des paysages et très différents, allant d'un archipel côtier à un environnement alpin. L'analyse de douze ensembles d'objets lithiques provenant du centre de la Norvège nous permet d'examiner comment ces groupes colonisateurs ont fait face à des éco-zones fort variées. Ont-ils aménagé leurs habitats et utilisés leurs connaissances techniques de la même façon ou ont-ils adaptés leurs activités suivant le terrain qu'ils occupaientL’étude de l'organisation des sites, de la composition des ensembles, des techniques de production de projectiles et des matières premières lithiques nous permet d'apporter quelques réponses à ces questions. Les sites étaient apparemment de la même taille et contenaient des structures semblables quoique soient les éco-zones. A part quelques exceptions dans la composition de l'outillage, le matériel lithique ne semble pas différer suivant les zones écologiques. Nous en concluons que l'utilisation d'un outillage lithique générique et standard appartenant à de petits groupes hautement mobiles a permis à ces populations de surmonter les difficultés et les risques associés au nouveau milieu qu'ils ont occupé et exploité. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

In diesem Artikel werden verschiedene Aspekte der nacheiszeitlichen Besiedlungsprozesse, die im frühen Mesolithikum (ca. 9500–8000 cal BC) in Zentralnorwegen stattfanden, untersucht. Die Verbreitung der Fundstellen zeigt, dass die Besiedler auf eine Landschaft mit zwei sehr verschiedenen Geländen—von Inselgruppen bis Hochgebirge—und Rohstoffquellen stießen. Die Auswertung der Befunde von zwölf Fundstellen in Zentralnorwegen ist Anlass zu einer Untersuchung der Art und Weise, wie diese Einwanderer mit den verschiedenen ökologischen Zonen zurechtkamen. Waren ihre Siedlungen und technische Fähigkeiten immer die gleichen oder gab es Anpassungen je nach Bereich? Die Untersuchung der Siedlungsstruktur, der Zusammensetzung der Befunde, der technischen Eigenschaften der Projektile und der Rohstoffe zeigt, dass die Fundstellen hinsichtlich ihrer Flächen und Strukturen in den verschiedenen ökologischen Bereichen ähnlich sind. Abgesehen von einigen Schwankungen in der Zusammensetzung der Geräte, wurden keine Unterschiede oder technische Anpassungen im lithischen Befund in den verschiedenen Ökozonen beobachtet. Wir sind der Ansicht, dass eine standardisierte und allgemein brauchbare Steintechnologie, zusammen mit einer hohen Mobilität und kleiner Gruppengröße, es ermöglichte, die Risiken und Schwierigkeiten einer Besiedlung in einer unbekannten Landschaft zu überwinden. Translation by Madeleine Hummler

Keywords

NorwayEarly Mesolithiccoastal and mountain environmentsgeneralized adaptationNorvègedébuts du Mésolithiquemilieu côtier et montagnardadaptation généraliséeNorwegenfrühes MesolithikumKüsten- und Berglandschaftverallgemeinerte Anpassung
Type
Article
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 19 , Issue 4 , 2016 , pp. 571 - 595
Copyright
Copyright © 2016 the European Association of Archaeologists 

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