| dc.description.abstract | The middle Mesolithic in Norway is known for its changes in technology, the dwellings sites, but also we can start to see some form of cosmology emerge. The first burials are coming from this era for example.
This thesis tries to look at hatches with shaft holes, which are some of the most spectacular artefacts from the Mesolithic, to see what they can tell us about the Mesolithic society. Several archaeologists have tried to find out what the hatches were used for, but there is no consensus for what they were used for. I tried therefore to look at the hatches from different perspectives, to give them a broader context so that we can discuss their uses further. First I analysed the hatches using the Chaîne opératoire method, this told me that although there are a mutual and specific and specialised way these hatches were made, they were also most likely a personalized item, as most of them are very different in size and width, also the size of the shaft hole.
To analyse the hatches further I used ArcMap to look at them in both time and space through a landscape analysis. I tried to see if we can relative date the hatches based on their location using isobases. I also used these maps to see how the landscape changed and what that could tell us about them. I found that the hatches most likely have a longer timeline than we first thought. I also found that the hatches have a relation with water, all of them are close to the sea or the fjords. It all seems deliberated. This can speak of a community that are well educated and use symbology and cosmology in their community. | |
