Stone Age dwelling structures with several use-phases. Report from an excavation in Taborshamn, Hasvik municipality, Finnmark, 6–16 August 2018

Abstract

The Stone Age Demographics project investigates demographic patterns, their background and implications at different scales. Stone Age sites typically are located at different heights above present sea level, which suggests different ages. Signs of reuse have previously been reported or indicated from a number of excavations of Stone Age sites in Scandinavia but have very rarely been a separate issue. The associated methodological and cultural- historical implications have been addressed to a very limited extent. The reuse issue is central to the Stone Age Demographics research project. 

The site Taborshamn was first documented as part of the project fieldswork in 2017 and 2018 and consequently registered in the national archaeological site database Askeladden as ID 239398. Unfortunately, this information was later removed and replaced by a dwelling locality with ID 27272. Its description is based only on LIDAR data and is at present deficient and its delimitation wrong/too small. The site includes a large number of semi-subterranean dwelling structures from the Late Stone Age as well as some younger structures. The dwelling structures are situated along elevated beach ridge at different heights above present sea level and thus represent a long timespan. We considered the structures situated just at the transition between cobble stones and fly sand to be particularly suited for our archaeological investigation addressing age and reuse of Stone Age dwelling pits. 

The investigation included three structures. In one practically the whole floor area was investigated, in the two others only up to one square meter in each floor area, directly linket to trenches established between the three structures. Effort was put on documetation of stratigraphical relations and changes within and between the structures. Profile benches were established as aid. In the structure where the total floor area was investigated changes in fireplaces/hearths were documented, among other things. A total of 168 charcoal samples were colleceted, in level and in sequences in profiles. 54 have been wood-determined and 26 dated. The dates represent a timespan of 5000 years, between 3500 cal BCE and 1450 cal CE. A Bayesian model of the dates suggests that multiple phases or episodes of use and reuse took place in all the structures, contemporaneous as well as separate.