Ringkloster

Abstract

The Late Mesolithic Ertebolle culture of Southern Scandinavia is known for its coastal settlements, the “kokkenmoddinger”. However it did not occupy the coastal zone alone, but was also present in the interior areas along freshwater lakes and rivers. When one hopes to give as detailed a picture as possible of the range of the settlement structure and economy of this culture, the lack of excavations of inland settlements in Jutland is strongly felt. The Ringkloster settlement in eastern Jutland is an Danish inland Ertebolle site, the first to be excavated and published in Denmark in the last ca. 50 years. The settlement is located on the prehistoric shore of Skanderborg lake, and thanks to excellent preservation conditions for organic materials has given us a fascinating insight into the material culture and economy of a west Danish inland Ertebolle settlement. The excavation was extensive and comprised a settlement area on dry land with a large number of structural remains such as pits and hearth...