Submerged Mesolithic Settlement Found By Swedish Researchers

A team of researchers headed by Lund University’s Professor Dan Hammarlund has uncovered an exceptionally well-preserved Mesolithic site off the Baltic Sea coast at Haväng in south-eastern Sweden.

They believe the location was a lagoon environment where ancient humans lived during parts of the year.

“The submerged landscape at Haväng is unique, as the excellent preservation of both natural and cultural objects and the longevity of the site are rarely seen in other submerged Mesolithic sites,” Prof. Hammarlund and co-authors said.

Changes in the sea level have allowed the findings to be preserved deep below the sea surface.

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Image credit: Arne Sjöström.

9,000 year-old antler pick axe; the imprint of the broken tip could still be seen in the sediments, as shown by the red contours; the yellow ruler measures 20 cm.

Source / Image Courtesy

. Image credit: Arne Sjöström.

9,000 year-old fishing construction made of hazel rods; the two legs of the yellow ruler measure 1 m each.

Source / Image Courtesy

Underwater Stone Age settlement mapped out

Seven years ago divers discovered the oldest known stationary fish traps in northern Europe off the coast of southern Sweden.

Since then, researchers at Lund University in Sweden have uncovered an exceptionally well-preserved Stone Age site.

They now believe the location was a lagoon environment where Mesolithic humans lived during parts of the year.