594 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1959 
tween the teeth before being swallowed, in contrast with the smaller 
strawberry seeds. As the strawberry season precedes the raspberry 
season, it is only from the beginning to the middle of July that it is 
possible to enjoy both of these tasty berries. In this period at least 
the dwelling place must have been occupied. 
A large number of crushed nut shells were found spread all over 
the dwelling place, and, therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the 
site was inhabited until September. 
The bones give the same evidence. Bones from barely fledged 
birds indicate a habitation in June and July, and finds of bittern and 
other migratory birds point to the summer half year. Characteristic 
winter visitors among the migratory birds have not been found. 
Hence we are sure that the dwelling place was inhabited in the 
months of June, July, August, and September, while there is nothing 
to indicate that it was inhabited during the rest of the year. 
DATING IN RELATION TO THE VEGETATIONAL HISTORY 
Since the great glaciers retreated from Denmark, one type of vege- 
tation has followed another (fig. 7). Right after the Ice Age the 
herbs moved in, along with sedges and grasses, and here and there 
dwarf willow and dwarf birch. The country was naked and bare, and 
no trees gave shade. Later on, when it became warmer, the birch ar- 
rived, and a little later the dark-green pine trees. At the same time the 
aspen spread, just as did the rowan. When it got still warmer, large 
hazel shrubs began to spread all over the country, but in due time they 
were superseded by elm, oak, linden, and ash. These trees did not mi- 
grate rapidly, but once they had arrived, they were difficult to remove. 
Little by little the trees conquered the country, their shade closed off 
the light from the undergrowth, and it became dark and silent be- 
neath the high tops. At a certain time, however, small changes in the 
vegetation occurred: hazel began spreading again, the elms receded, 
and simultaneously the elders (plantain) appeared for the first time. 
A new epoch was announced (fig. 8). The first farmers had begun to 
lighten the primeval forest. Development began on a small scale, 
which was to make Denmark one of the least-forested countries in 
Europe. Only along time after man had begun this clearing work did 
beech appear, but once it had arrived it spread rapidly. Finally, as a 
challenge to the heath, man began to break up the heather and to plant 
spruce. 
This very development can be reconstructed by means of pollen 
analysis. At the same time this method makes it possible to date a 
given sample in relation to the history of the forests. Thus the 
Muldbjerg dwelling place can be dated to the time when the first 
farmers had just begun to clear the forests—or, more precisely, to the 
last part of the oak-forest period. 
