Between broad spectrum and specialization: Revisiting the Late Mesolithic (c. 6300–3900 BC) Skoklefall site, Oslo Fjord region, Norway

It is a general assumption that the Mesolithic (ca. 9300–3900 BC) population in the Skagerrak region was highly dependent on marine resources. Due to taphonomic processes, faunal remains from the excavated settlement sites in the region are sparse, with preservation limited to burned bones on most sites. This has resulted in restricted and biased evidence for reconstructing the subsistence economy. In this paper, we present results from archaeological excavations at the Late Mesolithic (ca. 6300–3900 BC) Skoklefall site, located in the inner part of the Oslo Fjord, in southeast Norway. The site yielded well-preserved faunal material from a settlement area and an associated shell midden. We include data from 17 additional sites from southeast Norway and western Sweden with preserved faunal remains, to discuss subsistence and resource exploitation in the Skagerrak region during the Late Mesolithic. We conclude that the aggregated material from the Late Mesolithic sites in this region points to the importance of marine resources within a broad spectrum of species. Skoklefall is an exceptional site in this context, reflecting a clear specialization toward fowling, as well as local adaptation to herring fishing and shellfish harvesting.