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Flintmining at Södra Sallerups (Sweden)

Rudebeck, Elisabeth ; Högberg, Anders LU ; Olausson, Deborah LU orcid and Ottosson Berggren, Åsa (2023) p.327-339
Abstract
The area in Södra Sallerup is, as far as we know, the only large-scale flint mining area in Sweden. Radiocarbon dates indicate that the flint was mined mainly during the Early Neolithic. It is clear, however, that the flint that was scattered throughout the area by the mining activity was used during later periods, even as late as the Viking and Medieval Periods.
The large-scale mining during the Early Neolithic was probably related to the extraction of high-quality flint for the production of point-butted axes. The concentration of these axes to south-west Scania and eastern Zealand points in this direction. However, it would be wrong to assume that the mines were merely ‘axe factories’, motivated by economic reasons only. The very... (More)
The area in Södra Sallerup is, as far as we know, the only large-scale flint mining area in Sweden. Radiocarbon dates indicate that the flint was mined mainly during the Early Neolithic. It is clear, however, that the flint that was scattered throughout the area by the mining activity was used during later periods, even as late as the Viking and Medieval Periods.
The large-scale mining during the Early Neolithic was probably related to the extraction of high-quality flint for the production of point-butted axes. The concentration of these axes to south-west Scania and eastern Zealand points in this direction. However, it would be wrong to assume that the mines were merely ‘axe factories’, motivated by economic reasons only. The very extraction of flint from pits and shafts in the chalk was most probably socially and symbolically significant in itself. The activity was probably an integral part of the Early Neolithic mentality involving extraction of resources from the land on a scale that was not envisioned until the introduction of farming in this part of Scandinavia. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
keywords
flint mining, southern Sweden, Early Neolithic
host publication
Prehistoric Flint Mines in Europe
editor
Bostyn, Francoise ; Lech, Jacek ; Saville, Alan and Werra, Dagmara H.
pages
13 pages
publisher
Archaeopress
external identifiers
  • scopus:85179636893
ISBN
9781803272214
9781803272221
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f4f67d3a-092b-49c8-b3d3-85a0e4fbfa56
date added to LUP
2023-12-17 11:43:40
date last changed
2024-04-19 06:50:44
@inbook{f4f67d3a-092b-49c8-b3d3-85a0e4fbfa56,
  abstract     = {{The area in Södra Sallerup is, as far as we know, the only large-scale flint mining area in Sweden. Radiocarbon dates indicate that the flint was mined mainly during the Early Neolithic. It is clear, however, that the flint that was scattered throughout the area by the mining activity was used during later periods, even as late as the Viking and Medieval Periods.<br/>The large-scale mining during the Early Neolithic was probably related to the extraction of high-quality flint for the production of point-butted axes. The concentration of these axes to south-west Scania and eastern Zealand points in this direction. However, it would be wrong to assume that the mines were merely ‘axe factories’, motivated by economic reasons only. The very extraction of flint from pits and shafts in the chalk was most probably socially and symbolically significant in itself. The activity was probably an integral part of the Early Neolithic mentality involving extraction of resources from the land on a scale that was not envisioned until the introduction of farming in this part of Scandinavia.}},
  author       = {{Rudebeck, Elisabeth and Högberg, Anders and Olausson, Deborah and Ottosson Berggren, Åsa}},
  booktitle    = {{Prehistoric Flint Mines in Europe}},
  editor       = {{Bostyn, Francoise and Lech, Jacek and Saville, Alan and Werra, Dagmara H.}},
  isbn         = {{9781803272214}},
  keywords     = {{flint mining; southern Sweden; Early Neolithic}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{327--339}},
  publisher    = {{Archaeopress}},
  title        = {{Flintmining at Södra Sallerups (Sweden)}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}