KJOKKENMODDINGS, OR SHELL-MOUNDS. 229 



thirdly, that the stratum contained scarcely any gravel, but 

 consisted almost entirely of shells. 



The discovery of rude flint implements, and of bones still 

 bearing the marks of knives, confirmed the supposition that 

 these beds were not natural formations, and it subsequently 

 became evident that they were, in fact, the sites of ancient 

 villages ; the primitive population having lived on the shore 

 and fed principally on shell-fish, but partly also on the pro- 

 ceeds of the chase. In many places hearths were discovered 

 consisting of flat stones, arranged in such a manner as to form 

 small platforms, and bearing all the marks of fire. The shells 

 and bones not available for food gradually accumulated round 

 the tents and huts, until they formed deposits generally from 

 three to five feet, but sometimes as much as ten feet in thick- 

 ness, and in some cases more than three hundred yards in 

 length, with a breadth of from one hundred to two hundred 

 feet. The name Kjokkemnodding, applied to these mounds, 

 is derived from Kjokken, "kitchen," and modding (correspond- 

 ing to our local word midding), " a refuse heap," and it was, 

 of course, evident that a careful examination of these accumu- 

 lations would throw much light on the manners and civiliza- 

 tion of the then population. 



Under these circumstances a Committee was formed, con- 

 sisting of Professor Steenstrup, the celebrated author of the 

 treatise "On the Alternation of Generations," Professor Forch- 

 hammer, the father of Danish Geology, and Professor Worsaae, 

 the well-known archaeologist: a happy combination, promising 

 the best results to biology, geology, and archaeology. Much 

 was naturally expected from the labours of such a triumvirate, 

 and the most sanguine hopes have been fulfilled. More than 

 fifty of the deposits have been carefully examined, many 

 thousand specimens have been collected, ticketed, and depo- 

 sited in the Museum at Copenhagen, and the general results, 



