Dental indicators of seasonal hunan presence at the Danish Boreal sites of Holmegaard I, IV and V and Mullerup and the Atlantic sites of Tybrind Vig and Ringkloster

Abstract

Important new seasonal evidence has been derived from four early Holocene Danish Mesolithic sites based upon tooth-deselopment stages in dentally immature red deer (Cervus elaphus) and roe deer (Capreolus Capreolus). Radiographs of the developing molars aind premolars have been used to provide an indicationl of age at death by comparisons with modem known-age specimens. Knowledge of their age when killed indicates at what time of the year humans were present at the sites. Determining whether a site was occupied seasonally or year-round is critical to subsequent interpretations of human economic and social activity. Based on this new line of enquiry there is strong evidenice for the killing of red aind roe deer during the warmer months of the year at all the Boieal sites. At the Atlantic coastal site of Tybrind Vig red deer were killed in both winteand summer, while at the traditionally winter inland site of Ringkloster esvidence of red deer being killed during the summer months has been found.