Archaeologists from the Institute of History of Material Culture of the Russian Academy of Sciences have made a significant discovery on the Kola Peninsula in the Murmansk region. During an expedition, four settlements dating back to the late Neolithic period (2nd-1st millennium BCE) were uncovered, linked to the unique ancient Scandinavian Gressbakken culture. These findings provide new insights into the lives of people along the cold North Sea coast in ancient times, as reported by Nauka.rf, citing the institute's press service.
The Kola Peninsula has been the focus of archaeological research for many years, given its rich archaeological heritage. However, much of the area remains difficult to access. To facilitate excavations, researchers utilize helicopters and marine transport, with support from the residents of the village of Teriberka, the crew of the vessel 'Klava Elandskaya,' and sailors from the Northern Fleet.
In addition to the Gressbakken settlements, archaeologists recently completed an excavation of a dwelling dated to the 5th millennium BCE along the Kumzha River. This site represents the first excavated early Neolithic dwelling on the Kola Peninsula, yielding 22,000 artifacts, including stone tools, pottery fragments, and remnants of production. Nearby, traditional Saami structures known as 'vezhy' were also discovered.
The Gressbakken culture, previously primarily known in Denmark, is characterized by long rectangular dwellings that are partially underground. These homes facilitated year-round habitation in the harsh coastal conditions. The discovery of these settlements indicates that the Gressbakken culture was more widespread than previously believed.
In addition to excavations, researchers continue to study petroglyphs on the islands of Lake Kanozero. This site, featuring rock art from the Neolithic and Bronze Ages (4th-2nd millennium BCE), is one of the largest complexes of rock drawings in Fennoscandia.
According to expedition leader Evgeny Kolpakov, the prospects for discoveries in the northern part of the Kola Bay remain high. Despite extensive industrial development in the region, researchers continue to find sites and settlements that shed light on the lives of ancient peoples.