Jühnsdorf 8

The Mesolithic sites of Jühnsdorf, parish Blankenfelde-Mahlow, distr. Teltow-Fläming, are situated south of Berlin at Lake Rangsdorf and were excavated in 1936-9 and 1992-3. A hearth and 27 features of the old excavation had been considered huts until they were identified as windthrows. Motorway construction work after the German reunification revealed 4 to 5 Mesolithic sites, of which Jühnsdorf 8 was investigated on 5,000 m² to a depth of 1.2 m. Area 1 contained more than 11,000 stone artefacts, mainly elongated triangular microliths, more windthrows and a habitation feature. This was a “longhouse” 4.5 m by 7.5 m wide with an entrance area, an empty zone 1.5 m in diameter, a repeatedly cleaned hearth, and Middle Mesolithic artefacts [8,250-7,250 B.C.]. Area 2, some 100 m to the east, produced over 2,500 objects and a multi-phased paved hearth of granite with a diameter of 1 m [7,599 +/- 78 cal. B.C.] which prompted the compilation of a general catalogue of Mesolithic hearths. At the present hearth – probably protected by a tent – many activities took place such as food processing, use of axes, and repair of arrow[head]s. The term “Jühnsdorf Group” is rejected as being obsolete.