Four Mesolithic sites in Southern Halland. Problems concerning chronology and territoriality

Abstract

Research on the Mesolithic of Southern Halland has been limited until 1990. Late Paleolithic sites are not known at all, even if the climate provided good possibilities for making a living. The focus of the paper is on four sites in the area excavated until 1991. They are all inland sites. Karsefors lies by the river Lagan. It has thick cultural layers and the richest find material of the sites discussed. It was inhabited c. 8000 - 3500 BP. The stratigraphy of Ysby, Perstorp and Hästhagen consisted of thin find bearing layers between the topsoil and the underlying sand. They may all be roughly dated to c. 8500 - 8000 BP. All sites have varied tool kits, including microliths. The typological differences of Western Sweden and South Scandinavia is discussed in terms of in which area to put Southern Halland. It seems to share similarities whith both regions. A proposal is given to see some of the differences between the regions as a result of differing research traditions.