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Pyhtää Susikopinharju (1), Finland: a Site with Mesolithic Dwellings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Kenneth K.A. Lönnqvist
Affiliation:
Institute for Cultural Research, Department of History. P.O. Box 59, Helsinki University, 00014, Finland. E-mail: kenneth.lonnqvist@helsinki.fi

Abstract

The paper presents the excavations of a Late Mesolithic settlement and the dwelling depressions at Pyhtää Susikopinharju (1), Finland, in 1998. The excavations revealed the first Mesolithic house remains unearthed to date. A rich finds assemblage was also recovered, including unusual amounts of organic material such as refuse fauna and bone tools, and a chert microlith. Parallels for the Stone Age house/hut are found in Scandinavia and the Netherlands. The evidence suggests that the people were in interaction with a world that lay hundreds of kilometres outside their territory.

Résumé

Cette étude présente les excavations d'une occupation du mésolithique final et les enfoncements d'habitations à Pyhtää Susikopinharju (1), Finlande, en 1998. Les excavations révélèrent les vestiges de la toute première maison mésolithique mise au jour. On a également recouvré de riches trouvailles matérielles qui comprenaient une quantité inhabituelle de matière organique telle que de la faune rejetée et des outils en os, et un microlithe en silex. Des parallèles de la maison ou la hutte de l'âge de pierre découverte se retrouvent en Scandinavie et aux Pays-Bas. Les témoignages donnent à penser que ces peuples avaient des contacts avec un monde qui se trouvait à des centaines de kilomètres de leur territoire.

Résumen

Este trabajo presenta las excavaciones del asentamiento del tardo Mesolítico y las hoyos de viviendas en Pyhtää Susikopinharju (1), Finlandia, realizadas en 1998. Las excavaciones pusieron al descubierto los primeros restos de casas mesolíticos descubiertos hasta la fecha. Se recuperó así mismo, gran cantidad de material, que incluía cantidades poco usuales de material orgánico tales como residuos animales y útiles de hueso, y un microlito de sílex. Existen hallazgos paralelos para la casa o cabaña de la Edad de Piedra en Escandinavia y Holanda. La evidencia sugiere que los habitantes del yacimiento estaban en contacto con un mundo a cientos de kilómetros de distancia de su territorio.

Résumen

Der Artikel berichtet über die Ausgrabungen, die 1998 in einer spätmesolithischen Siedlung mit Grubenhäusern in Pyhtää Susikopinharju (1), Finnland durchgeführt wurden. Die Ausgrabungen erbrachten die Reste des bisher ersten mesolithischen Haus. Reiches Fundmaterial wurde ebenfalls geborgen, das einen untypisch hohen Anteil an organischem Material, wie z.B. weggeworfene Tierknochen und Knochengeräte und einen Mikrolithen aus Flint aufwies. Parallelen zu diesem steinzeitlichen Haus oder Hütte kommen aus Skandinavien und den Niederlanden. Die Daten suggerieren, dass die Menschen mit einer Welt in Verbindung standen, die mehrere hundert Kilometer außerhalb ihres Territoriums lag.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2009

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References

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