Brovst, en kystboplads fra ældre stenalder

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Abstract
Brovst Settlements of the Kongemose Culture have previously only been recorded in Zealand. Sporadic single finds, for example the flint-edge dagger from Flynderhage (see KUML 1969), which was assigned on typological grounds to the Kongemose Culture, have been the only representatives of this culture in Jutland. In the summer of 1969, three settlements which could be assigned to the Kongemose Culture were discovered in northern Jutland: at Brovst and on the island of Mors. Excavation of these sites is still in progress and the present article is a preliminary report from Brovst. Topography The settlement is situated west of a small morainic hill which was in Atlantic times an island in a broad reach of the Limfjord. This part of the fjord was sheltered from the Skagerrak by a late glacial beach ridge, fig. 1. Geological investigations have shown that the area was a freshwater lake before it was inundated by the sea in Atlantic times and transformed into a shallow fjord. In order to gain a general impression of the nature, extent and stratigraphy of the settlement, a series of trial pits, an E-W section and a small area of the settlement were excavated, fig. 2. Stratigraphy The E-W section is representative of the stratigraphy of the settlement, fig. 3. Immediately above bed rock, layer 1, lies a thin, black, marine clay containing a great deal of charcoal and numerous artefacts of flint, bone and antler, layer 2. To the west, this layer contains more sand, while the cultural material decreases. On account of this increasing sand, bone and antler were found only in the most easterly parts of the deposit. To the east, the flint had a white patina, but showed no signs of water wear. To the west, the degree of patination decreased, and in the most westerly parts of the excavation the flint had a completely unaltered surface. Immediately above layer 2 is a strongly compressed layer of oyster, cockle, mussel and periwinkle shells containing charcoal and numerous artefacts of flint, bone and antler, layer 11. Layer 11 is succeeded by a series of marine sand layers, 8, 10, 13 and 15, of different colours but similar composition and physical properties. At the bottom of sand layer 8, many artefacts and numerous millimeter-thick layers of shell litter occurred, presumably due to erosion from the top of layer 11. In the western parts of the excavation, the lowest parts of the sand complex are strongly rust coloured, layer 13. Throughout the sand, worked flint occurred, with a white patina and strong signs of water rolling. The sand layers are succeeded in the east by layer 4 and in the west by layer 12. In layer 4, which has a matrix of marine sand, a series of small, separate heaps of shells was found to the east, resting directly on the surface of layer 8. These heaps consisted of shells of oysters, cockles, mussels and periwinkles. Mixed with these shells were numerous pieces of worked flint, bone, antler, charcoal and pottery. In the southwest, a fireplace was found in one of the shell heaps, showing that they had been deposited on dry land. The flint has a white patina and exhibits faint signs of water wear, but none of the shell heaps was redeposited or showed signs of erosion. Layer 12 consists of coarse marine sand and gravel with a sparse occurrence of worked, strongly water-rolled flint. To the east, layer 4 is covered by the marine sand layers 5, 6 and 7, containing much worked flint with white patina and strong signs of water wear. The succession is completed by the ploughed top-soil, layer 9, containing numerous pieces of worked flint, especially in the most westerly parts. Apart from layers 4 and 9, all deposits are of marine origin and formed in connection with a coast which has been variously influenced by vertical movements of the land. The stratigraphy is relatively simple and can in several respects indicate the circumstances of deposition. Layer 2 was deposited in quiet, shallow water near the coast. Since it lies above the moraine, it must represent a rise in the level of the sea, which at some stage in the Mesolithic encroached on the former freshwater basin. Later, the sea level fell, as indicated by the rust-coloured sand of layer 13, and layer 11 was probably deposited on dry land. Later, the sea level rose again, layer 11 was inundated, and its upper parts eroded and redeposited at the bottom of layer 8, which registers a lengthy rise in the sea level. The shell heaps of layer 4, which were deposited on dry land, must stem from a period when the sea had once again withdrawn. Later, the shell heaps were inundated by the sea and layers 5, 6 and 7 deposited. Occupation has apparently been continuous throughout the period of these variations in the sea level, moving up and down the shore accordingly. Apart from layer 8, where artefacts were confined to the deepest parts, cultural remains were found in all layers. Scientific investigations in northern Jutland have shown that the Stone Age sea in these regions reached its maximum level during the middle or late Atlantic transgression. At Brovst, the maximum sea level is represented by the highest point of layer 6 in the eastern parts of the excavation. There is reason to believe that layer 6 represents the late Atlantic transgression. If this is correct, the shell heaps in layer 4 must have been deposited during the regression between the middle and late Atlantic transgressions. Layer 8 must represent the close of the middle Atlantic transgression, whilst layers 2 and 11 belong to its opening phases. These conclusions can of course only serve as a working hypothesis until more comprehensive investigations into the stratigraphy of the area have been carried out. Artefacts In the trial excavation, a relatively large artefact material of flint, bone, antler and pottery was recovered. The concentration of artefacts was greatest in the eastern parts of the excavation, and decreased...

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