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“Ertebølle-Ellerbeck culture”

Definition: The Ertebølle-Ellerbeck culture is the name given to the Late Mesolithic/Early Neolithic communities of northern Europe, dated about 5300 BC, consisting of hunter-gatherers who adopted pottery but not agriculture from their neighbors. In other words, your basic Mesolithic cultural lifestyle, plus pottery. Cemetery sites assigned to the Ertebolle culture near communities as Skateholm and Vedbaek are considered to have the earliest evidence of social ranking in Europe. Preceded by the Kongemose Mesolithic culture.

This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.

Examples: Skateholm I and II (Sweden), Aggersund, Tybrind Vig, Ertebølle, Vedbaek (all in Denmark),Related Glossary Entries
Vedbaek (Denmark)

Skateholm (Sweden)

Kongemose Culture

Suggested Reading
Mesolithic Archaeology

Scandinavia


http://archaeology.about.com/od/eterms/g/ertebolle.htm