Danish Mesolithic Period Northern Pike Jawbone Fragment

Maglemosian Culture, c. 9000–5000 BC, Mesolithic Period, Zealand, Denmark

A superb and highly uncommon jawbone fragment of a northern pike (Esox lucius), recovered from the rich peat bogs of Denmark. This rare find offers a direct glimpse into the Maglemosian culture, an early postglacial Mesolithic society that thrived in Northern Europe between roughly 9000 and 5000 BC.

Named after discoveries at Magle Mose ("Big Bog") near Mullerup on western Zealand, this culture is known for its sophisticated adaptation to wetland and forest environments. The Maglemose people were skilled hunters and expert fishermen, making extensive use of the rich aquatic resources around them. Pike, in particular, was a crucial food source—caught using early fishing tools like barbed bone spears, hooks, and nets woven from bark fibers.

This jawbone fragment is a fascinating relic of prehistoric subsistence and ingenuity, representing not just a species but a way of life. From finely worked tools and dugout canoes to personal adornments and domesticated dogs, the Maglemosian people left behind a legacy of adaptability and survival that continues to captivate archaeologists and collectors alike.

A truly rare and evocative artifact, ideal for anyone drawn to ancient lifeways or early European prehistory.

Good condition. Age-related wear, chip and fractures. Remnants of peat bog. Lovely deep dark brown patina. Fragment is treated with a surface-protecting beeswax layer. Size approx. 14,7cm x 2,4cm x 3,0cm.

Provenance: Danish private collection.

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/)

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)