elks in the early stone age art of the northern lowlands

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Elks in the early Stone Age art of the northern Lowlands by Jacek Kabacin ´ ski, Poznan ´, Sönke Hartz, Schleswig, and Thomas Terberger, Greifswald Frühes Holozän; Mesolithikum; Spätpaläolithikum; Kunst; Skulptur; Elch. Holocène précoce; Mésolithique; Paléolithique final; art; sculpture; élan. Early Holocene; Mesolithic; Late Palaeolithic; art; sculpture; elk. Der Beitrag stellt drei mesolithische Geweihlochstäbe der Fundstellen Twedt-Buschau, Verchen (beide Norddeutschland) und Krzyz ˙ (Polen) vor, die nach Meinung der Autoren als zoomorphe Darstellungen interpretiert werden können. Die Basis der Abwurfstangen wurde jeweils teilweise abgearbeitet und die Sprosse als spitzer Stumpf zugerichtet. Die so ent- standene Form kann als stilisierter Kopf eines Elches angesprochen werden. Die ähnliche Zurichtung der Objekte und die nahezu übereinstimmende absolute Datierung der Geweihstäbe von Twedt-Buschau und Krzyz ˙ in das frühe Boreal unterstützen diese Hypothese. Die skulptierten Geweihstäbe, die ein neues Element mesolithischer Kunst der nordeuro- päischen Tiefebene repräsentieren, werden abschließend in die Entwicklung der spätpaläolithischen/mesolithischen Kunst eingeordnet. Cet article présente trois bâtons percés mésolithiques trouvés sur les sites de Twedt-Buschau, Verchen (tous deux en Alle- magne du Nord) et Krzyz ˙ (Pologne), dans lesquels les auteurs voient des représentations zoomorphes. Ces bois tombés ont été partiellement travaillés à leur base et les andouillers taillés en pointe arrondie. La forme qui en résulte peut alors être perçue comme la tête stylisée d’un élan. La taille similaire de ces trois objets et la datation absolue, presque identique, des bâtons percés de Twedt-Buschau et Krzyz ˙ au début du Boréal renforcent cette hypothèse. Ces bâtons percés et sculptés, qui représentent un nouvel élément de l’art mésolithique des plaines de l’Europe septentrionale, sont ensuite intégrés dans l’évolution artistique du Paléolithique final au Mésolithique. The article discusses three perforated antler objects from Twedt-Buschau, Verchen (northern Germany) and Krzyz ˙ (Poland) which can be interpreted as zoomorphic representations. The roses of the antlers show cutmarks and the lower tines were modified into pin like stumps. The antlers are identified as abstract elk heads. This is supported by the very similar shape of the objects and the fact that the pieces from Twedt-Buschau and Krzyz ˙ date to the same early Boreal period. In the final chapter the meaning of the new evidence is discussed in the frame work of the development of Late Palaeolithic to Meso- lithic art. Introduction Excavations first took place at the famous peat bog site of Mullerup on Zealand, Denmark in 1900 (Sarauw 1903). Since then, a collection of around 450 ornamented objects dating to the Maglemose Culture (Preboreal to the early Atlantic chronozones) have been recovered from the north- ern Plain and southern Scandinavia (Plonka 2003, 25 pp.). The majority of the decorated finds were made out of bone and antler, but sometimes stone or amber were also used as raw materials. Most Maglemosian objects with art show engravings of geometric motifs such as the barbed line, the zigzag line or lines of triangles (Clark 1936; 1975, 158; Brinch Petersen 1990, 119; Plonka 2003, plate II). While objects with engravings of figures are rather rare, the ma- jority follow the same geometric style, for example, an antler piece from the Åmosen peat bog on Zealand is dec- orated with a schematic animal, probably a cervid with a triangular head and hatching of the body (Brinch Petersen 1990, 286). A similar style of engraving was used for the five anthropomorphic figures on the renowned aurochs bones from Ryemarksgård. The heads are small, triangular in form and the hatched bodies are also of the geometric type (Mathiassen 1941). A further anthropomorphic figure PZ, 86. Band, S. 151–164 DOI 10.1515/PZ.2011.010 © Walter de Gruyter 2011 Brought to you by | University of Sydney Authenticated | 10.248.254.158 Download Date | 8/26/14 2:02 PM

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Page 1: Elks in the early Stone Age art of the northern Lowlands

Elks in the early Stone Age art of the northern Lowlands 151

Elks in the early Stone Age art of the northern Lowlands

by Jacek Kabaci nski , Poznan, Sönke Hartz, Schleswig, and Thomas Terberger, Greifswald

Frühes Holozän; Mesolithikum; Spätpaläolithikum; Kunst; Skulptur; Elch.Holocène précoce; Mésolithique; Paléolithique final; art; sculpture; élan.Early Holocene; Mesolithic; Late Palaeolithic; art; sculpture; elk.

Der Beitrag stellt drei mesolithische Geweihlochstäbe der Fundstellen Twedt-Buschau, Verchen (beide Norddeutschland)und Krzyz (Polen) vor, die nach Meinung der Autoren als zoomorphe Darstellungen interpretiert werden können. DieBasis der Abwurfstangen wurde jeweils teilweise abgearbeitet und die Sprosse als spitzer Stumpf zugerichtet. Die so ent-standene Form kann als stilisierter Kopf eines Elches angesprochen werden. Die ähnliche Zurichtung der Objekte unddie nahezu übereinstimmende absolute Datierung der Geweihstäbe von Twedt-Buschau und Krzyz in das frühe Borealunterstützen diese Hypothese. Die skulptierten Geweihstäbe, die ein neues Element mesolithischer Kunst der nordeuro-päischen Tiefebene repräsentieren, werden abschließend in die Entwicklung der spätpaläolithischen/mesolithischen Kunsteingeordnet.

Cet article présente trois bâtons percés mésolithiques trouvés sur les sites de Twedt-Buschau, Verchen (tous deux en Alle-magne du Nord) et Krzyz (Pologne), dans lesquels les auteurs voient des représentations zoomorphes. Ces bois tombés ontété partiellement travaillés à leur base et les andouillers taillés en pointe arrondie. La forme qui en résulte peut alors êtreperçue comme la tête stylisée d’un élan. La taille similaire de ces trois objets et la datation absolue, presque identique, desbâtons percés de Twedt-Buschau et Krzyz au début du Boréal renforcent cette hypothèse. Ces bâtons percés et sculptés, quireprésentent un nouvel élément de l’art mésolithique des plaines de l’Europe septentrionale, sont ensuite intégrés dansl’évolution artistique du Paléolithique final au Mésolithique.

The article discusses three perforated antler objects from Twedt-Buschau, Verchen (northern Germany) and Krzyz (Poland)which can be interpreted as zoomorphic representations. The roses of the antlers show cutmarks and the lower tines weremodified into pin like stumps. The antlers are identified as abstract elk heads. This is supported by the very similar shapeof the objects and the fact that the pieces from Twedt-Buschau and Krzyz date to the same early Boreal period. In the finalchapter the meaning of the new evidence is discussed in the frame work of the development of Late Palaeolithic to Meso-lithic art.

Introduction

Excavations first took place at the famous peat bog siteof Mullerup on Zealand, Denmark in 1900 (Sarauw 1903).Since then, a collection of around 450 ornamented objectsdating to the Maglemose Culture (Preboreal to the earlyAtlantic chronozones) have been recovered from the north-ern Plain and southern Scandinavia (Płonka 2003, 25 pp.).The majority of the decorated finds were made out of boneand antler, but sometimes stone or amber were also used asraw materials. Most Maglemosian objects with art showengravings of geometric motifs such as the barbed line, the

zigzag line or lines of triangles (Clark 1936; 1975, 158;Brinch Petersen 1990, 119; Płonka 2003, plate II). Whileobjects with engravings of figures are rather rare, the ma-jority follow the same geometric style, for example, anantler piece from the Åmosen peat bog on Zealand is dec-orated with a schematic animal, probably a cervid with atriangular head and hatching of the body (Brinch Petersen1990, 286). A similar style of engraving was used for thefive anthropomorphic figures on the renowned aurochsbones from Ryemarksgård. The heads are small, triangularin form and the hatched bodies are also of the geometrictype (Mathiassen 1941). A further anthropomorphic figure

PZ, 86. Band, S. 151–164 DOI 10.1515/PZ.2011.010© Walter de Gruyter 2011 Brought to you by | University of Sydney

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152 Jacek Kabacinski, Sönke Hartz and Thomas Terberger

of schematic style was engraved, for example, with barbedlines on the polished perforated antler from Szczecin-Pod-juchy (fig. 1; Galinski 1992). The amber pendant from Sin-dalgård, Denmark is a further example for the same style ofanthropomorphic decoration (Vang Petersen 1998; Clark1975, 155; Nash 1998, 38–44). Some amber figurines areprobably related to the Maglemose Culture or at least tothe Mesolithic and they appear to have been manufacturedin a more complex and naturalistic style, however a signifi-cant shape and details of the depicted species are only pres-ent in a few cases (Brinch Petersen 1990, 121). Amongstthe fauna depicted, the bear seem to play a more important

role (Terberger and Ansorge 2000; Vang Petersen 1998).However the majority of the amber objects are stray findsand their Maglemosian context is sometimes rather uncer-tain.1

Here we present new evidence of figurative art that con-tributes to the better understanding of the character and thedevelopment of the early Mesolithic culture.

New Mesolithic figurative art from Krzyz,western Poland

In 2003 a rich early Mesolithic site was detected duringpond digging. It is located close to Krzyz at the edge of theRiver Notec (on one of the stream valleys, fig. 2; Kaba-cinski 2009). A considerable number of bone and antlertools were collected and it became clear that a major Meso-lithic peat bog site had been discovered. Since then, system-atic research was organized by one of the authors (JK). Thestratigraphy shows a sequence of peaty and sandy layerswith evidence for repeated Mesolithic occupation dating tothe early Holocene. A series of AMS-dates of several of thebone and antler tools points to a main occupation phase ofthe site in the second half of the Preboreal to Boreal period(fig. 3).

The faunal assemblage reflects the typical game species ofMesolithic forest hunters, including, aurochs, horse, reddeer, elk, roe deer and brown bear accompanied by birdsand turtle. In 2010 a test trench was excavated that is lo-cated some metres from the main excavation area. Thisarea proved to be successful as thousands of cracked hazelnutshells were recovered and this is in accordance with thegeneral idea that hazel nuts substantially contributed to theBoreal Mesolithic diet (e.g. Holst 2010). The same trenchyielded over 4,000 fish remains and indicates that a largeproportion of the human diet constituted of aquatic-basedprotein. This is an interesting observation because it is be-lieved that fishing increased in importance during the At-lantic Kongemose and Ertebølle Culture (e.g. Andersen1995). We shall have to wait until the analysis has beenundertaken, although the evidence from Krzyz exemplifiesthat we should not underestimate the potential for fresh-water resources in the (developed) Maglemose diet (for dis-cussion see Fischer et al. 2007, 2144–46).

The types of bone and antler tools from Krzyz bears simi-larity to other Mesolithic sites further west, such as Frie-sack and Hohen Viecheln and those of southern Scandina-via (Gramsch 2000; Schuldt 1961; David 2003). Theorganic finds and also the flint material, including the geo-metric microliths, evidenced at Krzyz suggest a Maglemoseculture context (Kabacinski 2009).

Among the organic objects, a long perforated antler(baton) earns closer attention. The robust shed antler

1 The bear from Lild Strand is a fake and has to be removed fromthe list of amber figurines (personal information P. Vang-Pe-tersen, 5. 3. 2011).

Fig. 1. Szczecin-Podjuchy/Stettin-Podejuch. Perforated antler withthe image of an anthropomorphic figure (Drawing: M. Wieczorek)

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Fig. 2. Map of important sites mentioned in the text.Circles: Late Palaeolithic sites (grey: uncertain find); stars: Mesolithic sites

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154 Jacek Kabacinski, Sönke Hartz and Thomas Terberger

Fig. 3. Late Palaeolithic and Mesolithic chronology, with important sites mentioned in the text. Please note that the sitesof Niederbieber and Bonn-Oberkassel (in brackets) are located in the Rhineland

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measures c. 40 cm in length and its tines appear to havebeen removed (fig. 4–5). While the middle tine was com-pletely removed, the lower tine was carefully modeled intoa stump like pin. The antler rose was also worked and le-velled adjacent to the tine stump. The perforation shows noheavy use wear traces. No further modification could beobserved on the antler surface except for a short sequenceof mostly parallel cuts to the distal end. Viewing the objecton a horizontal position, the antler piece can be interpretedas an abstract animal head. Essentially the head appears tohave a bended front and a muzzle as well as a tine stump forthe ears. The perforation can be seen as an oversized eye. If

we follow this line of argument, the head can be assigned toan animal with a great head and rather small upright stand-ing ears. The possible sculpture was directly AMS-datedto the early Boreal period c. 8150 calBC (Poz-27419: 8980x50 BP; Kabacinski 2009, 122).

The interpretation that the Krzyz perforated antler isthat of an animal head might be questioned because Meso-lithic zoomorphic representations are rare. The head is ofschematic style and there are no clear further animal detailsthat are cut or engraved on the piece. Therefore parallelsare of major importance to evaluate the significance of theobject.

Fig. 4. Krzyz. Perforated antler with sculptured animal head dated to c. 8150 calBC (Poz-27419: 8980 x50 BP)(Scale of the close ups: c. 1:1. Photo: P. Szejnoga)

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Parallels from northern Germany

Northern Germany is characterized by many peat bogs(Behre 2008, 43) and a considerable number of Mesolithicsites have been detected during the dredging of rivers.A number of interesting Mesolithic bone and antler tools aswell as decorated organic objects have been reported asstray finds (Dellbrügge 2002). Near to the village of Twedt-Buschau located in the district of Schleswig-Flensburg, adredged Mesolithic find spot was detected in 1976 (fig. 2).It provided a limited number of organic remains and flintdebitage, consisting of a perforated antler shaft, some non-specified animal bones and flint artifacts. They were dis-covered ca. 1–2 m below the surface in limnic gyttja, butonly the shaft ended up in the museum collection.

In February 2010 one of the authors (JK) identified theperforated antler shaft from the Twedt-Buschau site to beara close parallel to the Krzyz find: the antler basis is workedin a similar manner and was modified into a bent frontalpart of the head (fig. 6–7). The lower tine can be regardedas bearing a similar type of ears and the shaped part as wellas the antler shaft was carefully smoothed. In conclusion,the antler basis bears a very similar representation ofa large animal head. A direct AMS-date of the object isin favour that the two pieces are not accidental: the Twedt-Buschau shaft has been dated to c. 8480–8250 calBC

(Poz-31269: 9130 x50 BP) and belongs to about the sameearly Boreal period as the Krzyz antler (fig. 3).

The village of Verchen is located near the outflow of theRiver Peene from Kummerower See in the district of Dem-min, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (fig. 2). In the 1980s aseries of organic remains were collected from dredged sedi-ments in the river valley. Various bone and antler tools orig-inate from the destruction of settlements dating from theMesolithic to the Iron Age. Among the finds, there are twodecorated perforated antlers and the distal part of a largebone adze (Terberger 2000). The latter specimen was dec-orated with a line of hatched triangles and a direct AMS-date of c. 7970 calBC (UtC 9739: 8820 x60 BP) has beenobtained, again providing a Boreal context for the find.The decorated antlers were found on two different locationssome 100 m distant from each other and they probablyoriginate from two different dredged early Mesolithic sites.The first antler fragment is perfectly polished and showsa complex pattern of geometric decoration. Among theengraved motifs, there is a line of hatched triangles thatresembles the decoration on the bone adze fragment. Theengravings provide a good example for an individually ar-ranged composition of geometric ornaments in the Magle-mose style (Terberger 2000).

The second antler was also polished and the surfaceshowed only limited decoration. Two sequences of short in-

Fig. 5. Krzyz. Perforated antler with sculptured animal head (Drawing: J. Sawicka)

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Fig. 6. Twedt-Buschau. Perforated antler with sculptured animal head dated to c. 8350 calBC (Poz-31269: 9130 x50 BP)(Scale of the close ups: c. 1:1. Photo: Archäologisches Landesmuseum Schleswig)

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cisions and some additional lines showed no clear structureof the ornamentation. Recently the antler was identified tobe worked in the same way as the above-mentioned speci-mens2 (fig. 8–9). The lower tine was transformed into anear and the basis was shaped like a head. In this case, theflat and bended front head and muzzle can be clearly ident-ified as an animal, and a shallow depression of the tinestump supports the image of an ear. The limited engravingscan now be interpreted as representing portions in the ani-mal body. The antler is probably related to the Borealperiod that is represented by the dated bone adze from thesame site (see above).3

Results

The three perforated antlers from the sites of Twedt-Bus-chau, Verchen and Krzyz show a similar type of modifica-tion of the antler basis, the same shaping of the lower tineinto a small stump and each possess a perforation. They areinterpreted as sculptured animal heads with a bended front,head and muzzle, upright standing ears and oversized eyes.Direct AMS-dating assigns two of the specimens to thesame phase of the early Boreal at c. 8400 to 8100 calBC.

The authors identified these zoomorphic antlers as anew element of Mesolithic figurative art of the Maglemoseculture. Normally figurative representations of bone andantler are limited to schematic engravings on the surface. Incontrast the sculptured heads are three dimensional, but themost prominent representation as animal heads is limitedto the 2D-horizontal view from both sides. Parallels for theantlers are provided from the amber figurines which insome cases are very schematic and do not allow identifica-tion of the species.

2 We would like to thank Dr. Harald Lübke, Schleswig for thisindication.

3 Direct AMS-dating of the antler is in progress by H. Lübke.

Mesolithic zoomorphic sculptures made of organic ma-terial have also been found in Northeastern and EasternEurope (Płonka 2003, 170). A perforated elk antler wasrecovered from the site of Ivanovskoje 7, located in theUpper Volga region. The piece has been shaped into a zoo-morphic head and it is dated to the younger Butovo Cul-ture (Mhilin 2006, 39, Taf. 26). While it is impossible todetermine the species, a wooden object from the site of VisI can be reliably identified as an elk head and is probablyrelated to the early Atlantic period. The piece measures c.20 cm in length (Burov 1990). The most renowned seriesof sculptures were excavated at the cemetery of Oleni Os-trov at Lake Onega, Karelia. Some of the graves includedanthropomorphic figures, small waterfowl and sculpturedelk heads as burial goods (Gurina 1956; Płonka 2003, Fig.271–273). The latter are characterized with an elongatedhead, a bended front and muzzle and upright standingears (fig. 10). Additional details are marked with the eyeand/or the mouth. The head sculptures from Oleni Ostovand Vis I bear similarities to the finds presented here.Further more detailed elk representation can be men-tioned for example from the Zvejnieki site (burial 57, c.5700 calBC; Zagorska 2006, 96) or the more recent site ofSventoji 3 B (Forest Neolithic, c. 3100 calBC; Rimantienè1994, 98).

In conclusion, the authors suggest that the antlers fromKrzyz, Verchen and Twedt-Buschau (fig. 4–8) all representelk images (fig. 12).4 The close similarities of the threeantlers all indicate a body of shared techniques, standard-ized ideas and common believes on the Plain, in an areawith a minimum extension of c. 450 km. The only piece offigurative art from the western Baltic assigned to the same

4 However, we do not want to completely rule out that the headsmight be identified as dogs. In upright position the antler fromKrzyz was also discussed as a possible bird head (Kabacinski2009).

Fig. 7. Twedt-Buschau. Perforated antler with sculptured animal head (Drawing: G. Hagel-Bischof, Schleswig)

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species is the perforated amber elk head from Egemarkeon Zealand that is supposed to be of Maglemosian date(fig. 11; Mathiassen 1953).

Discussion: Figurative art of the Late Palaeolithicto early Mesolithic period

The Late Glacial Magdalenian is considered to be thehigh time of the Ice Age art. There are numerous examplesof cave paintings, a large variety of sculptures and many en-gravings. In the North, the first Hamburgian hunter–ga-therers of the Plain dated to c. 12500 to 12000 calBC(Meiendorf Interstadial; Grimm/Weber 2008; Weber 2010)produced relatively little art that is evidenced in the archae-ological record. The only figurative representations are theRiemenschneider from Meiendorf, that have been suggestedto represent the heads of waterfowl (Rust 1937, Taf. 43),and the well known Poggenwisch rod with geometric dec-oration and a human face (Rust 1958, Abb. 49; Bratlund1996; Bosinski 1978). Engravings at Church Hole at Cres-

well Crags demonstrate that cave art was probably carriedout at that time in Britain. Therefore it seems that the earlyhunters of the north had been in close contact with theMagdalenians to the south (Pike et al. 2005).

The subsequent Late Palaeolithic period is characterizedby increasing environmental changes and in the birch andpine forests of the Allerød period, the elk was the most typi-cal species in the north. The Late Palaeolithic of westernand central Europe is traditionally characterized as a phaseof decline in culture whereby Magdalenian art is replacedby mobile objects of the Azilian with geometric decoration.However there are only a few examples of animal depic-tions, for example Pont d’Ambon, Abri Murat and La Boriedel Rey, southwestern France (d’Erricco 1994, 254–259;Heuschen et al. 2006, 26).

Interestingly, a number of new findings challenge this no-tion. AMS-14 dates were obtained on the double grave ofBonn-Oberkassel in the Rhineland and they place the zoo-morphic figurine and the decorated bone pin to an earlyAzilian/Federmesser context (c. 12000 calBC; Baales/Street1998). Further evidence for figurative art is owed to a re-

Fig. 8. Verchen. Perforated antler with sculptured animal head (Scale of the close ups: c. 1:1)

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160 Jacek Kabacinski, Sönke Hartz and Thomas Terberger

Fig. 9. Verchen. Perforated antler with sculptured animal head (after Terberger 2000) (Drawing: M. Wagner)

Fig. 10. Tools with sculptured elk heads from two graves of Oleni Ostrov (after Gurina 1952).

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toucheur with two animal representations – possibly elks –engraved on the surface. The object was collected as a strayfind on a Federmesser site at Windeck in the Sieg valley,Rhineland (Heuschen et al. 2006).

More convincing evidence can be found at the Federmes-ser site of Weitsche in lower Saxonia, whereby an amberfigurine has been dated to the first half of the Allerød inter-stadial (Veil/Breest 2000).5 The sculpture has been ident-ified as an elk that was manufactured by a combinationof both the drilling and carving technique (Veil/Terberger2009).

An amber pendant from the Weitsche site has a geometricdecoration that might resemble schematic female represen-tations of the Magdalenian (Gönnersdorf type; Veil/Ter-berger 2009, 350). A sandstone shaft-smoother from theFedermesser site of Niederbieber in central Rhineland alsoshows a sequence of very schematic female representations(Loftus 1982), and probably supports the idea for a degreeof continuation of Magdalenian artistic elements into thelate Allerød period (c. 11000 calBC). Simultaneously paint-ings on stone slabs from Riparo Dalmeri in northeasternItaly show schematic signs and rather natural and detailedanimal representations for the time period, around 11000calBC (Dalmeri 2002). The site is situated in the SouthernAlps on c. 1240 m a.s.l. and the ochre painted slabs seem toreflect the upland fauna with species such as capricorn.

5 A possible parallel for the sculpture is the amber horse fromWoldenberg/Dobiegniew (Polen) (see Veil/Terberger 2009;Płonka 2003, 275).

An elk antler from Rusinowo in Pomerania directly datedto the beginning of the Younger Dryas cooling at c. 10750calBC (Poz-14541: 10700 x60 BP) documents the develop-ment of a strict geometric style with groups of zig-zag linesand a small schematic anthropomorph (Kowalski/Płonka2009).6 Furthermore a piece of elk antler from Wuster-

6 On a stone pebble from the Ahrensburgian site of Geldrop III,Netherlands, a further female representation of more natural-istic style is depicted. Unfortunately the context of the en-graved pebble is not absolutely clear (Bohmers/Wouters 1962;Taute 1968, 210; d’Errico 1994, 267).

Fig. 11. The amber elk from Egemarke, Zealand (after Mathiassen 1952; Terberger/Ansorge 2000)(Scale c. 1:1)

Fig. 12. Image of an elk

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162 Jacek Kabacinski, Sönke Hartz and Thomas Terberger

mark 22 has been dated to c. 1100 years later at the time ofthe Younger Dryas-Preboreal transition (Ua-20962: 10005x70 BP), depicting a same style of zig-zag decoration(Gramsch/Beran 2010, 100).

The above-mentioned objects demonstrate that the strictgeometric style of decoration, and less naturalistic to veryabstract figurative representations are typical for the art ofMaglemose culture, yet they were already present in thefinal phase of the Palaeolithic. The presence of decoratedelk antlers and the sculpture from Weitsche demonstratethat the elk formed a focal element of final Palaeolithic art.

The small amber head from Egemarke was detected 2 mbelow the floor in sandy mud. The perforated amber objectis about 6 cm long and shows interesting similarities to thelate Palaeolithic objects. The specimen is “beyond doubtan elk with its long face and hanging muzzle” (fig. 11; Ma-thiassen 1952, 167) and the contour was probably manu-factured in a similar combination of drilling/perforation,and carving as the amber sculpture from Weitsche. At thesame time the sectors decorated by “fine zigzag lines incisedwith great precision” (Mathiassen 1952, 167) closely re-semble the ornaments on the elk antlers from Rusinowoand Wustermark 22. Traditionally the Egemarke elk is as-signed to the Maglemose culture (Mathiassen 1952, 168;Newell 1990, 101), when such type of decoration is stillpresent. But the elk is not a typical motif of the Danish Me-solithic. The data presented here suggest that the Egemarkeelk could potentially be a Late Palaeolithic or a very earlyMesolithic art object. Depositions of elk bones excavated inLundby bog on Zealand are dated to the early Preborealand can be interpreted as sacrifices of hunted elks (MøllerHansen et al. 2004). They confirm that the elk was a speciesof special relevance for the Late Palaeolithic to early Meso-lithic hunter-gatherers in the western Baltic. If our interpre-

tation is correct the Egemarke elk amber represents the ear-liest piece of figurative art in Denmark.

The schematic elk heads from Twedt-Buschau, Verchenand Krzyz are more than 1000 years younger. In fact the elkheads were sculptured from red deer antlers and this mightbe seen as a puzzling contradiction. Elk antler became lessfrequent in the Boreal period and at the same time thebroad and compact antler was less suitable to modify into ahead. The authors therefore surmise that the sculpturesprovide evidence that the elk continued as an importantmagical animal. Elk were still present in the Atlantic forestand from time to time appear to have been hunted in the Er-tebølle period (e.g. Schmölcke/Zachos 2005). Further northand east, the elk continued to be an important motif of pre-historic rock art (e.g. Okladnikov/Martynov 1972).

In addition, the sculptured antler objects reflect affili-ations to the eastern Mesolithic Kunda and Butovo Cul-tures where the elk was an important game animal as wellas being depicted as art during the Mesolithic (Rimantienè1994, 98; Płonka 2003, 170). In the early Holocene, thenorthern Plain was closely connected to the cultural devel-opment of the western Baltic but there is increasing evi-dence for influences also from northeastern Europe (Hartzet al. 2010).

Towards the end of the Atlantic period, dense mixed oakforests developed in the western Baltic and the elk probablylost its importance. We might propose that during thisperiod, the bear that is found in the archaeological record,also in the form of amber figurines (fig. 13) replaced the elkas the most important magical animal (Vang Petersen 1998;Terberger/Ansorge 2000).

Fig. 13. Bear sculptures made of amber, probably dated to the Mesolithic (after Terberger/Ansorge 2000).1. Słupsk/Stolp; 2. Resen Mose; 3. Fanø (Scale c. 2:3)

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Page 13: Elks in the early Stone Age art of the northern Lowlands

Elks in the early Stone Age art of the northern Lowlands 163

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank very much H. Robson (Universityof Bradford) for improving the English text and for helpfulcomments on the paper. In addition we would like to thankG. Hagel-Bischof, (Schleswig), J. Sawicka (Poznan) andM.Wagner (Schwerin) for drawings of the finds. Finally weare very greatful to an unknown reviewer for helpful com-ments on an earlier draft of the manuscript.

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Anhang

List 1: Information on antler shafts

Krzyz 7Perforated antler shaft, weakly bent and partially decorated by a row of short cuts mainly parallel to one another at a distal end. Colour –from grayish brown to dark brown. Piece is made of strong, round to oval shed antler with partially preserved rosary. Ice tine shaped andpointed, eye tine removed, surface only partially polished although weathered. The very distal end has been broken. After AMS dating thepiece was treated with consolidants.Weight: 320 g, length: 40.2 cm, maximum diameter at proximal end: 4.6 cm, medial: 4.5 cm, distal: 3.5 cm; perforation diameter:2.8–3.0 cm, position of perforation oblique to the longitudinal axe, preserved length of ice tine: c. 3.5 cm

Twedt-Buschau LA 37Perforated antler shaft, weakly bent and undecorated. Irregular bright grey to dark grey in colour. Made of strong, round to oval shapedshed antler with partially preserved rosary, regular imprints at medial and distal end. Ice tine preserved as a pointed rest, eye tine removed,surface completely polished, weathered and broken at the distal part, surface treated with consolidants.Weight: 483 g, length: 53 cm, maximum diameter at proximal end: 4.0 cm, medial: 3.6 cm, distal: 3.3 cm; diameter perforation:2,0–2,3 cm, position of perforation oblique to the longitudinal axe, preserved length of ice tine: c. 4 cm.

Verchen site 24Perforated antler shaft (left side), weakly bent, partially decorated by sequences of short cuts and some and irregular incisions. Light brow-nish colour, made of strong shed antler, most of the rosary removed, ice tine preserved as a stump like rest, eye tine removed, surfacepolished and flattened, broken at the distal part, no consolidants visible.Weight: 138 g, length: 22.8 cm, maximum diameter at proximal end: 3,7 cm, medial: 3 cm, distal: 2,8 cm; diameter perforation: 2.5 cm,position of perforation oblique to the longitudinal axe, preserved length of ice tine: c. 2.5 cm.

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