Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 15.11
Relative sea-level curve for the Wismar Bight as reflected by AMS-
14
Cdatafrom
peats, rooted tree trunks, archaeological finds and published data. T
=
transgression, R
=
regression (after Lampe et al.
2005
, fig. 9)
Neolithic periods have been investigated and now form an excellent base for the
reconstruction of the landscape and settlement patterns. The sites are located at lev-
els between 40 and 80 m above the present sea level and span more than 4,000 years,
from 8,300 to 3,900 cal. BC. Most of the settlements were originally established on
large islands, in bays with access to the straits (Fig.
15.12
). Over the last few years,
several new sites have been discovered in the former outermost archipelago. The
finds indicate that they were seasonally occupied as camps for seal hunting and
fishing (Pettersson and Wikell
2006
).
Several sea-level curves have been calculated for the Södertörn peninsula since
the 1980s, based on data from various archives (Fig.
15.13
). The Miller curve
(Brunnberg et al.
1985
) is based on conventional
14
C dates, mainly from mires, but
data from archaeological sites are also included. It indicates two sub-Boreal trans-
gressions, in the early Neolithic and the early Bronze Age. In contrast, the Risberg
curve (
1991
) is based on radiocarbon-dated lake sediments: this does not show any
transgressions, only a slowing down of the regression during the late Mesolithic
period.
A third curve, published by Olsson and Risberg (
1995
), covers only the period
from 4,700 to 3,800 cal. BC. It is mainly based on
14
C dates and other detailed
information from 20 properly investigated and
14
C-dated archaeological sites. The
dated material was always taken from the lowest features. In addition, the above-
mentioned Miller and Risberg curves are discussed in the chapter and an attempt
is made to explain the different results presented. The authors argue, on the basis
