Forms of Dwelling by Rajala Ulla; Mills Phil;

Author:Rajala, Ulla; Mills, Phil;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Oxbow Books, Limited
Published: 2017-04-15T00:00:00+00:00

Mesolithic quarries in southern Norway

In southern Norway, Mesolithic activity can be identified at 15 of nearly 30 quarry sites, 12 of which are relatively secure (Fig. 8.2; Table 8.1).

Knowing when and for how long an extraction site was in use, as well as the scale of exploitation, can give an index of the intensity of quarrying at each site. As Table 8.1 clearly displays, there are differences in the sites’ intensity index. However, the index does not indicate the variety in intensity in site activity. Such knowledge is mostly deduced by establishing the extent of use of specific rock types found at settlement sites. Initial preparations of preforms and blanks were undertaken at all quarry sites; however, some of the sites have detached specialised workshop sites recorded as well (Nyland 2016; Olsen 1981).

Seven of the quarry sites provided diabase and greenstone for adze or axe production. Two of these seven sites are of particular interest and will be presented and discussed in more detail. These are Stakalleneset (2) and Hespriholmen (6), both of which were heavily exploited and continually reused in more than 5000 years. These sites have been extensively archaeologically investigated, and the rock dispersed in their surrounding regions has been provenience determined as well (Alsaker 1982; Olsen and Alsaker 1984; Olsen 1981).

Fig. 8.2: Satellite image showing southern Norway. Western Norway is dominated by an outer archipelago, featuring deep fjords with steep mountain sides, whereas eastern Norway has a less dramatic landscape, and the great Ra-moraine follows the south-eastern coast to the Swedish border. The mountain plateaus of Hardangervidda, Skarvheimen and Dovre separate the two regions. The circled numbers marks the extraction sites discussed in this article. The numbers correspond with the list in Table 8.1 (illustration: A. J. Nyland).

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