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‘Køkkenmøddinger’ (Shell Middens) in Denmark: a Survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2014

Søren H. Andersen
Søren H. Andersen
Affiliation:
National Museum of Denmark, Centre for Maritime Archaeology, Roskilde, Denmark
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Abstract

This paper presents a review of prehistoric shell midden sites (‘Køkkenmøddinger’) in Denmark. The form and structure of these sites, their contents, distributions, cultural associations, and chronology are discussed. It is concluded that they are not a unique type of coastal settlement but represent coastal, homebase settlements characterised by a dominance of shellfish in the cultural deposits. This is the only aspect by which they differ from the rest of the coastal habitation system. Shell midden sites seem to flourish in periods characterised by a rich marine biotope and coastal habitation can be seen as a direct reflection of variations/changes in the marine biotope.

Résumé

Cette étude présente une révision des sites préhistoriques à amas coquilliers (‘Køkkenmødinger’) au Danemark. On y examine la forme et la structure de ces sites, leur contenu, leur répartition, leurs associations culturelles et leur chronologie. On en conclut qu'ils ne constituent pas un type singulier d'occupation côtière, mais représentent des occupations côtières, sédentaires caractérisées par la prédominance de coquillages dans les dépôts culturels. C'est le seul aspect qui les distingue du reste du système d'habitations côtières. Les sites à amas coquilliers semblent prospérer dans les périodes caractérisées par un riche biotope marin et on peut considérer l'habitat côtier comme un reflet direct des variations/ changements dans le biotope marin.

Zusammenfassung

Dieser Artikel stellt eine Besprechung der prähistorischen Muschelhaufen Fundstellen (‘Køkkenmøddinger’) in Dänemark dar. Die Form und Struktur dieser Fundstellen, ihr Inhalt, Verbreitung, kulturelle Zugehörigkeit und Chronologie werden diskutiert. Es wird zusammengefaßt, daß es sich dabei nicht um einen einmaligen Typ einer Küstensiedlung handelt, sondern lediglich um stationäre Küstensiedlungen, die sich durch ein Vorherrschen von Schalentieren und kulturellen Ablagerungen charakterisieren. Dies ist ihre einziges Unterscheidungskriterium im Küstenbesiedlungssystem. Muschenhaufenfundstellen scheinen in Zeiten eine Blühte erlebt zu haben, die durch reiche maritime Biotope gekennzeichnet sind. Die Küstenbesiedlung kann als eine direkte Widerspiegelung der Variationen/Veränderungen in den maritimen Biotopen gesehen werden.

Resúmen

Este trabajo presenta una reseña de los concheros prehistóricos (“Køkkenmøddiger”) en Dinamarca. Se discute la forma y estructura de estos depósitos, sus contenidos, distribuciones, asociaciones culturales y cronología. Se concluye que no son un tipo único de asentamiento costero, sino que representan asentamientos base en el litoral caracterizados por un predominio de moluscos en los depósitos culturales. Este es el único aspecto que los diferencia de otros asentamientos costeros. Los concheros parecen florecer en periodos caracterizados por ricos biotopos marinos y el asentamiento costero puede ser entendido como un reflejo directo de variaciones/cambios en el biotopo marino.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 66 , 2000 , pp. 361 - 384
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 2000

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