59 
SHELL-MOUNDS OF DENMARK, 
C 23 AND C 24. 
The objects in these Cases have been obtained from the 
" Shell-Mounds " and " Coast-finds" of Denmark. The Shell- 
Mounds, or Kjokkenmoddings, are heaps of shells, mixed with 
broken bones and other refuse, which have accumulated around 
the sites of ancient dwellings. At Havelse, the mound is in the 
form of an irregular ring : the central space was probably the 
site of the hut, or huts. At one time the Danish shell-mounds 
were thought to be natural deposits — in fact, raised beaches ;" 
but this was proved not to be the case, for the shells in them 
belong entirely to full-grown, or to nearly full-grown, individuals, 
and consist of four kinds which do not live together, and do 
not require the same conditions. The Danish shell-mounds are 
frequently of great extent, being sometimes more than 300 
yards long, 10 feet thick, and from 100 to 200 feet broad. 
The people who resorted to these spots, to feed upon the 
shell-fish found close at hand, were probably of migratory habits. 
Remains of the wild goose are found in the shell-mounds. As 
this bird is only a winter visitor, it would seem that the shell- 
mounds were sometimes occupied even in cold and inclement 
weather. No trace of grain has been met with in the shell- 
mounds. Bones of the sheep, horse, reindeer, and domestic 
fowl are absent. Polished stone implements themselves have 
not been met with in the shell-mounds, but both Mr. John Evans 
and Professor Steenstrup have found pieces of polished stone 
hatchets, some of which had been worked up into tools and 
scrapers. 
Shell-mounds, resembling the Kjokkenmoddings of Denmark, 
have been observed in many parts of the world ; indeed, they 
are still being formed by the Fuegians, and some other savages. 
Objects from the Kjokkenmoddings of Denmark are 
SHOWN in Cases C 23 and C 24. 
C 23. 
All the specimens exhibited from the shell-mounds and coast- 
finds of Denmark have been presented to the Collection by Mr. 
John Evans, F.R.S. 
