The palisade enclosure at Hyllie, SW Scania

Abstract

Malmö Heritage carried out an archaeological excavation of the Middle Neolithic palisade enclosure at Hyllie in Malmö in 2001–2002, including the remaining parts of the enclosure that had not been investigated previously and some areas outside the palisades. This made it the most extensively excavated palisade enclosure in Scandinavia so far. The radiocarbon results and finds in post-holes and a few other related features place the enclosure within the Battle Axe Culture. Flakes from the production of square-sectioned axes/chisels were found in post-holes and pits, together with flake scrapers, bones of both domestic and wild animals and pottery. The finds will make an important contribution to our understanding of activities linked to the palisade enclosure. General questions concerning the chronology, economy, social structure and ritual tradition of the Battle Axe Culture can also be discussed in the light of the palisade enclosure and its finds, and also the classical archaeological problem of the Middle Neolithic A – Middle Neolithic B transition.