What Denmark's Ancient Kitchen Middens Reveal About Stone Age Survival
Exploring the scientific legacy of 19th-century researchers who first calculated midden accumulation time and reconstructed biological food sources of Early Stone Age Denmark.
Imagine stumbling upon a heap of ancient seashells, animal bones, and discarded tools, weathered by thousands of years. To the untrained eye, it might seem like nothing more than a pile of garbage. But to archaeologists, such mounds are priceless archives—the kitchen middens of Denmark's Early Stone Age that hold secrets to how our ancestors lived, ate, and thrived.
These prehistoric refuse heaps, some stretching hundreds of meters, represent the earliest environmental studies ever conducted, where 19th-century scientists first developed methods to calculate how long these sites took to accumulate and reconstruct the biological food sources that sustained ancient communities 1 .
The study of kitchen middens represents nothing less than the birth of ecological archaeology. When 19th-century Danish researchers began examining these mounds, they initiated a scientific revolution that would forever change our understanding of prehistoric life 1 . This article explores the fascinating science behind analyzing these ancient garbage dumps—from the pioneering work of researchers like Steenstrup and Worsaae to cutting-edge techniques that continue to reveal surprising insights about the Stone Age diet, challenging even our modern conceptions of what it means to eat "primitive."
The story of Denmark's kitchen middens is intrinsically linked to the Ertebølle culture (approximately 5400-3950 BCE), the last hunter-gatherer-fisher communities of prehistoric Denmark before the arrival of agriculture 1 . These coastal people left behind the most extensive and informative middens in the region, which have become focal points for understanding the transition from foraging to farming.
These mounds are essentially prehistoric garbage dumps containing layers of discarded food remains, tools, hearth ashes, and other settlement debris.
The scientific importance of these sites was first recognized in the mid-19th century when J.J.S. Steenstrup, J.G. Forchhammer, and J.J.A. Worsaae conducted systematic studies that would lay the foundation for modern archaeology 1 .
Identified middens as human-created deposits
Developed chronological framework for Stone Age
Calculated midden accumulation time
Researcher | Contribution | Significance |
---|---|---|
J.J.S. Steenstrup | Identified middens as human-created deposits | Established archaeological context for subsistence studies |
J.J.A. Worsaae | Developed chronological framework for Stone Age | Created first relative dating method for prehistoric sites |
C.G. Johannes Peterson | Calculated midden accumulation time | Pioneered quantitative approach to archaeological formation |
A central question for 19th-century archaeologists was determining how long it took for these substantial middens to accumulate. The pioneering work "Means of Calculating the Time of Accumulation of Kitchen Middens" by C.G. Johannes Peterson represented one of the first systematic attempts to address this question through quantitative methods 1 7 .
These methods, while revolutionary for their time, contained significant limitations. Early calculations didn't fully account for variables like population fluctuations, changing consumption patterns, or the possibility that not all food remains ended up in the midden. Nevertheless, they established a framework for thinking systematically about archaeological site formation processes.
Modern radiocarbon dating has refined our understanding considerably, revealing that major Danish middens accumulated over centuries rather than millennia, with the Ertebølle period lasting approximately 1,500 years before the transition to agriculture around 3950 BCE 1 . The development of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating now allows scientists to date individual shells and bones, providing much more precise chronological frameworks for these sites.
The second part of Peterson's work—"Food Sources in Denmark during the Early Stone Age: a biological study"—represents an equally important scientific contribution: the systematic reconstruction of prehistoric diets from biological remains 1 . This approach was groundbreaking in its interdisciplinary methodology, combining zoology, botany, and geology to paint a comprehensive picture of Stone Age subsistence.
Shellfish (especially oysters), fish (cod, flatfish), marine mammals (seals, porpoises), and seabirds
Red deer, wild boar, roe deer, aurochs, and small mammals
Hazelnuts, acorns, roots, wild berries (raspberries, blackberries), and various leafy greens 2
Food Category | Specific Examples | Archaeological Evidence |
---|---|---|
Shellfish | Oysters, mussels, cockles | Shell layers in middens |
Fish | Cod, flatfish, herring | Bone fragments, fishing gear |
Marine Mammals | Seals, porpoises, whales | Bones, harpoon points |
Land Mammals | Red deer, wild boar, aurochs | Butchered bones, antler tools |
Plants | Hazelnuts, roots, berries | Charred remains, pollen |
Recent analyses have overturned several assumptions about Stone Age foodways. Contrary to the modern "Paleo diet" myth of a carbohydrate-free existence, Stone Age hunters gladly ate carbs when available, including root vegetables and seeds from wild grasses . Even more surprising, evidence from the Early Neolithic Funnel Beaker culture (which followed the Ertebølle) suggests that bread was notably absent from their diet despite the presence of cultivated grains; instead, they prepared porridge or gruel 2 4 .
Analysis of human remains from the period reveals that this diverse diet supported remarkably healthy populations. Studies of Stone Age bones show strong skeletal development and excellent dental health with minimal tooth decay, attributable to a diet low in refined sugars and high in coarse, fibrous foods that naturally cleaned teeth . The heavy tooth wear observed on skeletal remains indicates both a coarse diet and the use of teeth as tools in food preparation.
While 19th-century researchers laid the foundation, modern scientific techniques have revolutionized our understanding of Stone Age diets. A landmark 2024 study conducted at the Early Neolithic Funnel Beaker site of Frydenlund on the island of Funen demonstrates how cutting-edge methods are challenging long-held assumptions 2 4 .
The international research team employed a sophisticated analytical approach:
The findings overturned conventional interpretations:
Aspect | Expected Results | Actual Findings |
---|---|---|
Grinding Stone Use | Cereal grinding for flour | Processing of wild plants |
Cereal Preparation | Bread-making | Porridge/gruel preparation |
Tool Motion | Back-and-forth grinding | Pounding with pestles |
Food Significance | Cereals as primary processed food | Cereals as one component of diverse diet |
This study provides compelling evidence that 5,500 years ago, Neolithic Scandinavians were not baking bread—instead, they were likely preparing porridge or gruel from their grains while using their "grinding stones" to process wild plants 2 4 . This revelation fundamentally changes our understanding of early agricultural food preparation practices in Northern Europe.
Modern midden research relies on an array of specialized techniques and analytical tools that enable researchers to extract maximum information from these ancient deposits.
Identify microscopic plant remains to determine plant processing on tools 2
Recognize residue from starchy plants to identify specific plants processed 4
Analyze animal remains to determine species and butchery patterns 5
Determine absolute age to date specific layers or finds 1
Reconstruct diet from human bones to understand food sources
Extract genetic material from remains to identify species and relationships
Method/Tool | Function | Specific Application |
---|---|---|
Phytolith Analysis | Identify microscopic plant remains | Determine plant processing on tools 2 |
Starch Grain Analysis | Recognize residue from starchy plants | Identify specific plants processed 4 |
Zooarchaeology | Analyze animal remains | Determine species, butchery patterns 5 |
Radiocarbon Dating | Determine absolute age | Date specific layers or finds 1 |
Stable Isotope Analysis | Reconstruct diet from human bones | Understand proportion of marine vs. terrestrial foods |
These methods have revealed that the transition from hunting-gathering to farming was far from abrupt in Denmark. The Ertebølle people gradually incorporated agricultural products while maintaining their traditional subsistence strategies, creating a mixed economy that lasted for generations 1 . This challenges the traditional view of a rapid "Neolithic Revolution" and suggests a more complex, gradual transition to agriculture in Northern Europe.
The kitchen middens of Denmark continue to be archaeological treasures, offering profound insights into our shared human past.
From the pioneering work of 19th-century scientists who first calculated accumulation time and reconstructed food sources
To modern researchers using microscopic analysis to challenge assumptions about ancient diets
The ongoing research reminds us that prehistory is constantly being rewritten with new techniques
The finding that Neolithic Scandinavians preferred gruel to bread, and that their "grinding stones" were actually used for pounding wild plants, illustrates how much remains to be discovered in these ancient archives 2 4 .
As we continue to study these remarkable sites, we don't just learn about what our ancestors ate—we gain insights into human adaptability, ecological relationships, and the endless creativity of the human spirit. The kitchen middens stand as enduring monuments not only to the Ertebølle people who created them, but to the enduring human drive to understand where we come from, one seashell, bone fragment, and microscopic starch grain at a time.