Ørnfløya 1. En pionertidslokalitet fra tidlig eldre steinalder på yttersida av Kvaløya i Troms.

Abstract

Ørnfløya 1. An early Older Stone Age pioneer locality on the outer coast of Kvaløya, Troms. During the past couple of decades both research projects and rescue excavations have contributed considerably to our understanding of the early Older Stone Age pioneer settlement along the entire Norwegian coast. However, understanding of the pioneers along the coast between northern Nordland and Finnmark counties is still rather limited. Excavations have largely taken place on sites within the middle and inner reaches of the fjord systems. The excavation of Ørnfløya 1 in 2013–14 offers new insights into the pioneer settlement on the outer coast facing the North Atlantic. The topographical and environmental settings of the site at the time of occupation are described, followed by a discussion of the excavation, chronology, raw material use, the artifacts, a possible dwelling, and the spatial organization of activities. The site is then interpreted in its regional, economic and settlement system setting, and in its national context.