The presentation will be based on results of excavations of large cemeteries from hunter-gather societies in Southern Scandinavia and Latvia (8.500-4.500 BC) as well as from a megalithic tomb in southern Portugal.

The cemeteries of hunter-gatherers of Northern Europe are located on islands in ecologically favourable environments. One or a small number of cemeteries within a restricted area are used for many generations providing excellent examples of the changes in mortuary practices. Similarities and differences within Northern Europe will be presented.

The excavation of a megalithic tomb in Portugal also exemplifies a use for several generations where the changes in mortuary practice are observed not only by the location of burials but also in modifications of the stone monument.

 

Lars Larsson is a professor in archaeology at the Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund university, Southern Sweden. He has been and still is the leader of projects in Stone Age, from Middle Palaeolithic to the Neolithic, in Sweden, Latvia, Portugal, Zimbabwe and South Africa. At the moment he is directing a project about a large Iron Age site (including Viking Age) in southern part of Sweden.

 

All Welcome!

 

Centre for Archaeological Research, The Australian National University