Old Traditions and New Innovations. The Late Middle Neolithic in Scania, the Southernmost Part of Sweden

Larsson, Lars

doi:0066-5924

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Old Traditions and New Innovations. The Late Middle Neolithic in Scania, the Southernmost Part of Sweden Larsson, Lars

Object structure

Old Traditions and New Innovations. The Late Middle Neolithic in Scania, the Southernmost Part of Sweden

Larsson, Lars

Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology Polish Academy of Sciences

archaeology ; Southern Scandinavia ; Middle Neolithic ; Battle Axe Culture ; Funnel Beaker culture ; Single Grave Culture

The Corded Ware Culture complex in Sweden involves a special form of social structure called the Battle Axe Culture. Among well-known features, such as single graves, there are also other forms of expression. A special form of find is illustrated by a place with a significant accumulation of deliberately burned or otherwise destroyed objects. This mass deposit includes both well-known object forms and items indicative of far-reaching contacts. This kind of deposit practice has continuity dating back more than a millennium. The earliest part of the Late Middle Neolithic (Younger Neolithic I) appears to be a period of multicultural elements that included a continuation of the Funnel Beaker Culture with evident influences from the Pitted Ware Culture. Another form of expression relates to the so-called palisade constructions. Aspects of relations within southern Scandinavia, involving influences from the Corded Ware Culture and older cultural forms, are discussed. It is suggested that a tradition based on Funnel Beaker Culture has a longer existence in parts of Scania, the southernmost part of Sweden, than in the rest of southern Sweden.

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