Causewayed camps, palisade enclosures and central settlements of the Middle Neolithic in Denmark

Abstract

Many causewayed camps were transformed into settlements where various rituals continued to be performed. Such settlements are among the largest known from the Danish Middle Neolithic and are labelled ‘central settlements’ because of their size and character as ceremonial centres. The palisade enclosures of the late Funnel-Beaker Culture are interpreted along the same lines. A parallel development towards larger settlements took place within contemporaneous culture groups in Central Europe.