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

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Antlers and bones of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus L.) are the most frequently found vertebrate remains from the Late Glacial deposits of

Southern Scandinavia. The Danish collection now consists of more than 350 specimens and of these 47 have been radiocarbon dated extending

the 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 the

Holocene. 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 shown

that Southern Scandinavia acted as a calving area throughout the Late Glacial and Early Holocene thus discrediting the NortheSouth model of

reindeer 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.

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Archaeological Science
Pages (from-to)1-10
Number of pages11
ISSN0305-4403
Publication statusPublished - 2006

    Research areas

  • Faculty of Humanities - Reindeer, Rangifer tarandus, Late Glacial, South Scandinavia, Seasonality, Human Exploitation

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