Larsson Mats - Paths Towards a New World

Published in the United Kingdom in 2014 by
OXBOW BOOKS
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and in the United States by
OXBOW BOOKS
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Oxbow Books and the individual authors 2014

Paperback Edition: ISBN 978-178297-257-0
E-pub Edition: ISBN 978-178297-258-7; Mobi: ISBN 978-178297-259-4;
PDF: ISBN 978-178297-260-0

A CIP record for this book is available from the British Library

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Larsson, Mats, 1951- , author.
[Mot en ny v?rld. English]
Paths towards a new world neolithic Sweden / Mats Larsson ; with Geoffrey Lemdahl and
Kerstin Lid?n.
1 online resource.
Includes bibliographical references.
Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource
not viewed.
ISBN 978-1-78297-258-7 (epub) -- ISBN 978-1-78297-259-4 (mobi) -- ISBN 978-1
78297-260-0 ( pdf ) -- ISBN 978-1-78297-257-0 1. Neolithic period--Sweden. 2. Sweden
-Antiquities. I. Lemdahl, Geoffrey, 1955- , author. II. Lid?n, Kerstin, author. III. Title.
GN776.22.S8
936.85--dc23

2014017202

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Preface

One year of writing and reflecting has now come to an end and it is now up to the reader to judge the results. Is this the book that I began writing in 2010? Both yes and no is the cryptic answer. Yes, since I managed to limit the amount of text to a somewhat reasonable size, and that I was also able to include the material that I originally intended. No, as I have surely forgotten or neglected places and material that perhaps should have been included. In this case, the fault is my own.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank both individuals and institutions that have helped me in putting this book together. First, Id like to express a great big thank-you to my dear wife Ylva who has supported me throughout my entire archaeological career, from my dissertation in 1984 up until this book. Thank you!

I would also like to thank the rest of my family Per, Malin and Stefan, and especially my grandchildren Maja and Mns, who sometimes enticed me to forget all about archaeology.

Thanks also to Professor Roland Hallgren for his support and friendship, as well as the proofreading he performed with such a sharp eye. A big thank-you should also go to Professor Lars Larsson, for many jolly laughs throughout the years, as well as his constructive criticism on the manuscript.

The contributions written by Professors Geoffrey Lemdahl and Kerstin Lidn raise the quality of the book, and without these contributions, I would have been badly off. Thanks!

In addition, I would also like to thank all of my present as well as former colleagues and my friends for many stimulating discussions and meetings over the years. If I dont name any names, then I wont forget anyone! A special thanks goes to those who have generously allowed me to use pictures and illustrations N. H. Andersen, P. O. Nielsen, M. Andersson, F. Hallgren, K. Jennbert, E. Rudebeck, N. Bjrck, K. Brink, C. Tilley and H. Browall.

Linkping, February 2012

Mats Larsson

Introduction

Mats Larsson

The idea for this book came to me during one of my many drives commuting between Linkping and Kalmar. Why not write a book about the younger Stone Age in Sweden, a period to which I have dedicated so many years? The target audience would be archaeology students and archaeologists in general, as well as other interested readers. I also began pondering over what I would include in the book. Sweden is a large country with very diverse conditions and research traditions. In this case, I am referring to the natural conditions necessary for early agriculture, for example, as well as how different research traditions emerged. The extensive number of studies during recent years and the abundance of significant new results also meant that the choices were not very easy or self-evident. It is impossible to describe in detail or discuss the quite extensive archaeological material we have today from the younger Stone Age; therefore, I have chosen to discuss fundamental research perspectives concerning the period. I have chosen the sites with this in mind. The selection is my own and reflects my own research interest. Thus, it is not a coincidence that I focus on southern and middle Sweden, though the countrys northern regions are in no way forgotten.

The in many ways problematic concept of culture is, and has been, much discussed, especially within research concerning the younger Stone Age, and this is something one should be aware of. However, for the sake of both simplicity and clarity, I have chosen to retain and use the established culture designations such as the Erteblle Culture, the Funnel Beaker Culture, the Pitted Ware Culture and the Battle Axe Culture. We will look at what these represent in the following chapters.

The quotation from Verner von Heidenstam found below can be seen as a contribution to a long archaeological debate that is still relevant today. Within modern archaeological research, we are still discussing, for example, certain Neolithic cultures eastern or southern origins and contacts. We should however be wary of trying to see Stone Age people as indigenous peoples who were homogenous throughout the geographical region we today call Sweden. Channels of contact, travel and exchange of goods and ideas changed the relationships between people, but also led development in different parts of the country to diverge.

I.1. Map of Sweden with some of the sites mentioned in the text.
1. Siretorp; 2. Resmo; 3. Lilla Mark; 4. Kpingsvik; 5. Alvastra; 6. The Linkping region; 7. Ajvide; 8. Hsthagen, Slottsmllan; 9. by; 10. Fagervik; 11. Mogetorp; 12. stra Vr; 13. Prlngsberget; 14. Skogsmossen; 15. Fgelbacken; 16. Kyrsta; 17. Bllinge Bog; 18. Hgmossen; 19. Frkenrnningen; 20. Bjstamon; 21. Bjurselet; 22. Voullerim; 23. Lillberget; 24. Rssberga (the Falbygden region); 25. Vedbk; 26. Sarup; 27. Erteblle.

I.2. Scania, Sweden, showing selected sites.
1. Siretorp; 2. Hagestad region; 3. Carlshgen; 4. Kabusa; 5. Piledal; 6. Mossby; 7. Skateholm; 8. Dserygg; 9. Svenstorp; 10. Hyllie; 11. Kastanjegrden; 12. Fosie IV; 13. Hindby Bog; 14. Almhov; 15. Soldattorpet; 16. Lddesborg; 17. Gillhg; 18. Jonstorp; 19. Dsjebro; 20. Stvie.

Chronology of the periods discussed in the volume.

From where have we come?, asked Karilas and motioned questioningly with his hand, first towards the south and then towards the east. Poets, who of you can answer Ura-Kaipa? Who can solve this mystery? Long have we lived here, and in time we learned to make our weapons shining like gold. I only know, poets, that none of your old local legends tell about such a bright and lovely summer night, and here we will make ourselves a country for people.