Ertebølle canoes from Lystrup

Abstract

Ertebølle canoes from Lystrup

In Late Atlantic times (6000-4000 B.C.), the time of the Ertebølle Culture, the coast near Århus was much more sinuous than it is today. About 8 km north of Århus there was a 5.5 km long and 1.5 km wide inlet, now damp meadows and cultivated fields called Lystrup Enge (fig. 1). This inlet seems to have come into existence at around 6000-5500 B.C., and many coastal settlements, particularly those dating from the older part of the Ertebølle Culture have been recorded along its shores. One of the discoveries is bones of a killer whale (Orcinus orca) (fig. 12).

One of the settlements, which was excavated after 1981 but is not yet published, is the largest known Jutland settlement of the older Ertebølle culture (fig. 2), and the most remarkable of its finds are the canoes described as Lystrup 1 and Lystrup 2 (S.H. Andersen 1994).

The site lies on the southern side of a low gravel point running east-west parallel with the coast. The huts stood on the point itself, where only flint now survives, but the rubbish dumps lay in nearby waterlogged fjord deposits, where animal bones, antler, and much wood is also present, the latter consisting especially of many long hazel stakes, which were the remains of fishing fences (fig. 4). The water beside the settlement was not only dump, but also a fishery with food waste, making it one of the oldest kitchen middens in the country. Not only the location, but also the many fishbones and mollusc shells show the importance of the sea for life at the site. So do the bones of small and large whales. The commonest fish were cod, flatfish (plaice, dab, etc.) and eels. Fishing was done close inshore using permanent fixed gear, primarily in the form of traps. The presence of bones of mackerel, garfish, and eels show chat some at lease of the fishing took place in the summer and early autumn. The whales species present were bottle-nosed dolphin, dolphin, white­beaked dolphin, and killer whale, as well as the larger bottle-nosed whale and fin whale. Forest animals represented were red deer, wild pig, wild cattle, and roe deer, while wolf, fox, badger, otter and wild cat provided fur. There are not many bird bones, which is primarily owing to local conditions of preservation. Dog is the only tame animal. There are also quantities of hazelnut shells and mollusc shells.

Charcoal determinations indicate chat the primary forest consisted typically of elm, oak and lime, with growths of ivy. In such a virgin forest environment contacts, movement, transport and social activities by land were difficult. The result was chat having boats and sailing them were essential to life and social intercourse in the broadest sense.

Both boats were found in a littoral zone (fig.4), the stratigraphy of which in the main area of the excavation is shown by figs. 5-6. The overlying deposits 1-1.5 m thick consisted of waterlain sand and clay, showing chat the site became submerged after use, according to the C-14 dates (fig. 5). The settlement layer itself is dated to ca. 5210 - 4940 B.C., which indicates the early or earliest Ertebølle Culture.

The two Lystrup boats were found in 1990 and 1992.

Lystrup Boat 1 (fig. 7-12).

This lay in a northwest-southeasterly direction on the old fjord bottom, and was overlain by 1 - 1.10 m of waterlain sand and clay (fig. 6a). The canoe had been pressed flat and split into at lease four parts, the largest of which (the bottom and part of the starboard side) measured 6.20 x 0.70 m. Close by lay another part of the starboard side including the gunwale (fig. 9a­b), while the other parts lay a little further away (fig. 4). Lystrup Boat 1 was made from a large trunk of aspen (Populus tremula), which is an unusual feature, as all the other Danish Mesolithic canoes are of lime (Tilia sp.). The bow and port side are missing. The boat's original length was about 7 m, its outline pointed-oval, and its cross-section U-shaped. Its original beam can be estimated at 50-70 cm, its height as ca. 30 cm, and the hull's thickness ranged between 0.5 and 2 cm. The stem was straight-cut, slightly concave, and open when found, but was certainly originally closed. Ca. 3-8 cm from its edge could be seen 12 oval holes on the interior of the sides and bottom. Their purpose had been to secure the stem bulkhead, which was never found.

On the bottom of the boat, about 80 cm from the stem, there was a ca. 3.5 cm thick layer of sand and clay, which had been the base of a hearth. A second hearth is probably represented by a small charred area near the bow (fig. 11). On the inside of the boat many oblique marks from hewing out with axes of flint or stone could be seen, but there were no signs that fire had ever been used to hollow out the vessel.

Cracks had developed in the port side and bottom, and had been repaired by boring rows of holes to stitch the crack together, This shows how much work could be invested to keep the boats in usable condition.

Lystrup 1 has been C-14 dated to 5210- 4910 B.C.

Lystrup 2 (fig. 13-17)

This lay a little deeper and further from the shore than Boat 1. It too lay on the prehistoric fjord bottom in a northwest-southeast direction, and it was overlain by ca. 1.50 m of water-deposited sand and clay (fig. 6a). It had been pressed flat and split, but in this case the bow and the whole starboard side survived (fig. 15). The length was about 7.10 m, the width about 60 cm, the height 40-50 cm, and the thickness of the wood ranged from 1 to 4 cm. The wood was lime (Tilia sp.). The out­line of the vessel was pointed oval, and the cross-section was U-shaped (fig. 15). Also the stem of this boat was open and originally constructed in the same way as the stem of Boat 1, i.e. with holes cut internally into the bottom and sides to secure a separate stem bulkhead. The gunwale was thin and sharp (only 0.2 cm wide) and slightly rounded off with a ca. 3 cm wide bevel externally at the top. However there were no clear remains of a hearth near the stem, but only some charred patches, which may have been traces of one (fig. 17). Amidships was an indistinct oval clay deposit including four fist-size flat stones (fig. 18), possibly ballast or traces of a closing of the stern. Oblique cutmarks were visible at many place on the inner side.

The outer side of the boat survived well, and it was evident chat the bark had been removed and the surface cut smooth to remove irregularities which could have detracted from the sailing qualities of the canoe.

The result of a C-14 dating was 5570-5340 B.C., i.e. apparently boat 2 was ca. 300 years older than Boat 1. After being dug clear also this boat was brought to Moesgård, where both are part of the exhibition (fig. 20). Apart from the possible lack of a hearth in boat 2 the two Lystrup boats are very much alike, but boat 2 is a little larger.

Close to boat 2 were found two after bulwarks from canoes, but it is not known whether they were from Boat 2 or from some entirely different boat (fig. 21).

Other finds included a single oar with spade­like silhouette (fig. 22). It is about 11 cm wide and its shape is very similar to the spade-shaped oar blades from the middle and late Ertebølle Culture, which are known from among other places Tybrind Vig (S.H. Andersen 1987). The Lystrup oar is clearly an alder version of the same type.

The Lystrup boats were hollowed out using flint axes, and there are no definite indications of the use of fire. Experiments have shown that two men can make a boat like this in a week. The original material of which all the Danish Mesolithic boats were made (except Lystrup 1) was very thick, straight trunks of lime trees, which the dimensions of the boats show must have been in the order of 10-11 m long and 70-100 cm in diameter.

Agernæs in northern Funen is the only Ertebølle settlement where there were definite indications that a boat had been hollowed out at the site. No doubt this was normally done at the place where the tree grew in the forest. Illustrations from the ethnographical literature show chat the crew sat, or alternatively kneeled, on the bottom of the boat and paddled. When fishing or using harpoons or fish-spears it was common to stand up and pole. The hearths were important for fishing (flaring). Estimates and trials suggest that boats of this size could have carried 6-8 individuals with equipment and possibly dogs, i.e. a family group. The large size of the Mesolithic dugouts could be explained by a motives such as to save labour, to have sufficient transport capacity, prestige, habit, or social motives (like being able to carry a whole family at once). Although long, thin-hulled boats like these must have been difficult to sail, the existence of Mesolithic sites on remote island like Bornholm or Anholt shows that it was possible to cover considerable distances with them.

The Mesolithic dugout were used for fishing and hunting seals, but also for transportation, seasonal migrations, and social contacts between settlements. They had an importance beyond merely being means of transport, and they were very common, as has been shown by several recent excavations. Remains of 2-3 boats have been found at recent settlement excavations including Tybrind Vig, Halsskov, and most recently of all Lystrup. Boats were of central importance to the society of the time, servicing basic social and economic requirements.

Søren H. Andersen