Ahrensburgian

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Scope note
Refers to the northern European Mesolithic period and culture that flourished around 7,000 Before Present. It is characterized by the return of cold-climate technologies that followed the milder interstadial period and the Hamburgian culture, including a distinctive antler ax, called the "Lyngby Axe," detachable antler harpoon heads, harpoon-like arrowheads with detachable shafts, other re-usable tools, and decorative motifs similar to Hamburgian, such as fishbone patterns, meanders, and geometric figures. The culture spread over the lowlands now occupied by the North Sea, from Germany to the Netherlands and south-east England. Some scholars believe that it may have had ties to eastern Europe.
Ahrensburgian
Accepted term: 10-Feb-2025