Ancient Storage Pit Discovered in Southern Denmark

 

A fascinating discovery has been made in southern Denmark, where a stone-paved pit, dating back 5,000 years, was unearthed during railway construction work. The pit, located at the Nygårdsvej 3 site of the Funnel Beaker Culture, measures over six feet in length and five feet in width, having been dug about a foot beneath the surface. Researchers believe the pit was used as a storage cellar for perishables such as grains, dairy, and meat, a theory supported by the burned bone fragments found within.

In addition to the pit, traces of two houses were uncovered, including postholes and pits, showing the evolution of the settlement. The second house was constructed soon after the first ceased to be in use, revealing how the site developed over time.

You can dive deeper into this discovery by reading the original scholarly article published in Radiocarbon.