The telltale potency of a simple milligram of charcoal found in a hearth left by Mesolithic reindeer hunters in the Norwegian mountains

Abstract

The discovery and excavation of superimposed, information-rich Pre-Boreal hunting sites around the mountain lakes of Myrvatn and Fløyrlivatn in Southwest Norway have been the subject of archaeological debate. A brief review of research is presented here. In contrast to the well-preserved sites, settlement remains of a diametrically different order occur in the strongly water-eroded zone of the lakeshores: small, surface hearths in almost every stage of preservation, from evident hearths to diffuse and irregular scatters of fire-cracked stones. The latter category seems generally underestimated as a source of evidence. However, recent finds at Myrvatn demonstrate how even blurred, heavily eroded and almost intangible hearth remains, by the support of wood anatomical analysis, radiocarbon dating and intra-site comparison, may reveal concise, invaluable information both about the history of local use and regional landscape development.

Keywords:

• Myrvatn (SW Norway)
• Mesolithic sites
• Unstructured hearths
• Water erosion
• Wood anatomy analysis
• Radiocarbon dating
• Vegetation development

Acknowledgements

The field investigations at Myrvatn, performed by the Museum of Archaeology in Stavanger over a period of 30 years, have to a large extent been financed by grants from the Ministry of Environment (MD) channeled by the Directorate of Cultural Heritage (RA). Colleagues at the archaeology unit of Rogaland County Municipality (RFK) took part in the fieldwork in 2012. Several anonymous referees commented on an earlier draft of the article and Sean D. Denham at the Museum of Archaeology has suggested some linguistic improvements. All this support is highly appreciated.