The Scandinavian Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) after the last glacial maximum: time, seasonality and human exploitation

TY - JOUR

T1 - The Scandinavian Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) after the last glacial maximum: time, seasonality and human exploitation

AU - Petersen, Erik Brinch

AU - Aaris Sørensen, Kim

AU - Mühldorff, Rudi

PY - 2006

Y1 - 2006

N2 - Antlers and bones of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) are the most frequently found vertebrate remains from the Late Glacial deposits ofSouthern Scandinavia. The Danish collection now consists of more than 350 specimens and of these 47 have been radiocarbon dated extendingthe range of occurrence in the area with ca. 1300 14C yr. Thus the first occurrence is pushed back to ca. 12 500 14C yr BP (late Bølling chronozone)while the youngest date lies at ca. 9200 14C yr BP (late Preboreal chronozone) establishing that the reindeer survives well into theHolocene. The seasonal dates of the reindeer indicate for the first human occupation (the Havelte group from the Bølling period) a summer,autumn and early winter occupation, with reindeer, as well as man, apparently being absent during the coldest winter months. Finally, it is shownthat Southern Scandinavia acted as a calving area throughout the Late Glacial and Early Holocene thus discrediting the NortheSouth model ofreindeer groups moving from a wintering area in Southern Scandinavia to a calving area in the foothills of the North European plain.2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

AB - Antlers and bones of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) are the most frequently found vertebrate remains from the Late Glacial deposits ofSouthern Scandinavia. The Danish collection now consists of more than 350 specimens and of these 47 have been radiocarbon dated extendingthe range of occurrence in the area with ca. 1300 14C yr. Thus the first occurrence is pushed back to ca. 12 500 14C yr BP (late Bølling chronozone)while the youngest date lies at ca. 9200 14C yr BP (late Preboreal chronozone) establishing that the reindeer survives well into theHolocene. The seasonal dates of the reindeer indicate for the first human occupation (the Havelte group from the Bølling period) a summer,autumn and early winter occupation, with reindeer, as well as man, apparently being absent during the coldest winter months. Finally, it is shownthat Southern Scandinavia acted as a calving area throughout the Late Glacial and Early Holocene thus discrediting the NortheSouth model ofreindeer groups moving from a wintering area in Southern Scandinavia to a calving area in the foothills of the North European plain.2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

KW - Faculty of Humanities

KW - Rensdyr

KW - Sydskandinavien

KW - Reindeer

KW - Rangifer tarandus

KW - Late Glacial

KW - South Scandinavia

KW - Seasonality

KW - Human Exploitation

M3 - Journal article

SN - 0305-4403

SP - 1

EP - 10

JO - Journal of Archaeological Science

JF - Journal of Archaeological Science

ER -