Fjord fishing in Mesolithic Western Norway

Abstract

Recent excavations at two rockshelters (Olsteinhelleren and Sævarhelleren) on the Hardanger fjord in Western Norway have provided an unparalleled opportunity to examine the Mesolithic subsistence economy of this region. Thousands of fish remains (as well as numerous mammal and bird bones) have been analysed from these assemblages. Results show that the fishery was dominated by gadids, but labrids and salmonids were also important. Many other fish were present in small quantities, including the first specimen of sturgeon from the Stone Age of Norway. The transition to a more specialised fishery at the younger site, Olsteinhelleren, may be a reflection of a switch to the use of this locality as a logistic camp for the targeting of gadid fish.

Keywords:

• Norway
• Fishing
• Mesolithic
• Rockshelters
• Sturgeon
• Gadids
• Fishhooks

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the archaeologists who excavated the materials at the shelters; Olaug Flatnes Bratbak, Marianna Batti and Colin Amundsen for their work on bone identifications; and the Faculty of Humanities and the Meltzer Foundation at the University of Bergen for funding the excavations.