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Early- and middle-Neolithic agriculture in Denmark: pollen spectra from soils in burial mounds of the Funnel Beaker culture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2017

Svend Th. Andersen*
Affiliation:
Ministry of the Environment, Geological Survey of Denmark, Thoravej 8, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark
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Abstract

This paper examines pollen evidence for early agriculture in Denmark. After a general introduction to the problems at issue, the specific data from burial mounds of the different TRB phases are considered. Problems of survival and recovery are identified. The early-Neolithic spectra indicate two agricultural methods producing small cleared areas. In the middle Neolithic there was widespread use of secondary woodlands for swidden cultivation and pasture. Pollen analyses from Single-Grave barrows in western Jutland show differring methods of agriculture.

Dieser Artikel setzt sich mit Hinweisen auf frühe Landwirtschaft in Dänemark auf Grund von Pollenanalysen auseinander. Nach einer allgemeinen Einführung in den behandelten Problemkreis werden spezifische Daten von Grabhügeln in den unterschiedlichen TRB-Phasen betrachtet. Probleme der Erhaltung und Bergung werden aufgezeigt. Frühneolithische Pollenspektren weisen auf zwei landwirtschaftliche Methoden hin, mit deren Hille kleine Lichtungen geschaffen werden korinten. Im mittleren Neolithikum war die Brandrodung von Sekundärwald für Anbau und Weideflächen weit verbreitet. Pollenanalyse von Einzelgräbem im westlichen Jütland deutet auf verschiedene Anbaumethoden hin.

Cet article examine les données palynologiques pour les débuts de l'agriculture au Danemark. Après une introduction générale consacrée aux problèmes soulevés par cette question, les données provenant de tumuli des différentes phases des TRB sont analysées. Les problèmes de conservation et d'observation sont identifiés. Les spectres pollinique du Néolithique ancien indiquent deux méthodes agricoles, produisant de petites surfaces dèforestées. Au Néolithique moyen, on assiste à un développement de l'utilisation des forêts secondaires, pour les cultures sur chablis et le paturage. Les analyses palynoligiques des tumuli à tombes simples de l'ouest du Jutland indiquent des méthodes d'exploitation agricole différentes.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © European Association of Archaeologists 

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