Oesterschelpen Ostrea edulis in ‘køkkenmøddinger’ uit de Steen- en IJzertijd

Along the coasts of Denmark many shell middens (‘køkkenmøddinger’) have been found and investigated. These are remains of hunters-gatherers of the Neolithic Ertebølle culture and Iron age coastal communities. Dominance of European oyster shells Ostrea edulis in the shell middens seems related to periods with high salinity and sea water temperatures. Changes in shell size in the shell middens may indicate exploitation pressure exerted by coastal hunters-gatherers.