Danish Mesolithic Period Barbed Bone Point

The Maglemosian culture, c. 9000-5000 BC, The Mesolithic Period, Zealand, Denmark.

Absolutely gorgeous and rare barbed bone point were probably used as harpoon or leister prong to spear fish. Maglemosian is the name given to a culture of the early Mesolithic period in Northern Europe, dating from the postglacial period, approx. 9000 to 5000 BC. This fascinating culture was named after the archeological finds from a bog at Mullerup, in the Magle Mose, near Gørlev and Høng on western Zealand (Danish: Sjælland), southwest of lake Tissø in Denmark. Here the first settlement of the culture was excavated in 1900, by the archaeologist George Sarauw. The name Magle Mose means ‘big bog’ in Danish. During the following century a extensive series of similar settlements were excavated from England to Poland and from Skåne in Sweden to northern France. When the Maglemosian culture flourished, sea levels were much lower than now and what is now mainland Europe and Scandinavia were linked with Britain. 

The Maglemose peoples lived in forest and wetland environments and were excellent hunters and fishermen. The material culture is well known because a number of excavated sites lay in drowned areas and were well preserved. Their tools and  supplies included flint microliths, axes and adzes, bows and arrows, bone and antler spearheads, as well fishing equipment such as spears, fishhooks, bark twine fishnets and bark floats. Wooden paddles, and even dugout canoes have also been preserved. Adornments such as pendants, tooth beads, bead necklaces, and amulets are also known. All of the excavated settlements are believed to have been the short-term homes of single families or small groups during the summer months. The deposits of animal bones at the sites can be explained by the peoples returning to the site year after year. During the Maglemosian period people hunted large animals like aurochs, elk, red deer, roe deer and wild boar. Hunters also fished, especially for pike. They also collected oysters, but not nearly to the same scale as it was done in the later Ertebølle culture. It also appears that they had domesticated the dog. The dogs of the Maglemosian period were, in shape and size, similar to today’s husky-type dogs. It may be that specific types of dog were used for different kinds of hunting. At times dogs were eaten. This is indicated by finds of dog bones showing splitting for marrow and cut marks. The Maglemosian people hunted large animals for their meat, but other parts of animals were also used. Bones from the animal’s feet, lower forelegs, ribs, shoulder blades, and antlers could also be utilised to make clubs, harpoons, axes and fish spears. Most of their belongings such as harpoons and bone points used as leisters were lost into the lake, buried in cold anaerobic sediments, decay was limited and many were exquisitely preserved, only to be recovered when the peat was cut in the early 20th century.

Gorgeous barbed bone point are in excellent condition. Age-related minimal wear and abrasion. Remnants of peat bog. Lovely dark brown patina. Size approx. 9,6cm x 1,3cm x 0,4cm.

Provenance: private collection from Denmark.

References and further reading:

Prehistoric period (until 1050 AD)/ The Mesolithic period, Nationalmuseet i København (https://en.natmus.dk/historical-knowledge/denmark/prehistoric-period-until-1050-ad/the-mesolithic-period/)

How Bone Technology points to Cultural Lineages in Prehistory? New Insights from Danish Late-and Post-Glacial Weapons’ Heads, Éva David, Lasse Sørensen, Peter Petersen, Open Access Journal of Archaeology and Anthropology, 2022. (https://hal.science/hal-03598512/document)

Early Maglemosian culture in the Preboreal landscape: Archaeology and vegetation from the earliest Mesolithic site in Denmark at Lundby Mose, Sjælland, Catherine A. Jessen, Kristoffer Buck Pedersen, Charlie Christensen, Jesper Olsen, Morten Fischer Mortensen & Keld Møller Hansen, Quaternary International. 378, 2015, pp. 73–87. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quaint.2014.03.056)

Med bue, pil og fiskespyd, Danmarks Oldtid, Jørgen Jensen, Gyldendals Open Encyclopedia (https://danmarksoldtid.lex.dk/Med_bue,_pil_og_fiskespyd)