Norway: submerged stone age from a norwegian perspective

Abstract

The presence of submerged Stone Age sites along the Norwegian coast has been recognised for a long time. Until recently, however, they have not been treated as a topic of interest. From shallow waters, more than 80 submerged Stone Age sites are known in Norway, one of which is a probable ritual site with bones of several humans. Due to complex patterns of shoreline displacement and uplift after the last deglaciation, the present-day shallow water areas along the Norwegian coast contain sites from periods which are also represented by numerous sites on dry land. The submerged sites can provide better preservation quality for cultural remains of organic materials than settlement sites on dry land. This allows for a dynamic and informed study of Stone Age coastal adaptations, interactions and lifeways.