Northern Europe: 08 SWEDEN (Scandinavia), Late Upper Palaeolithic (15-11.7 kya)

During the Last Glacial Period (LGP, 115-11.7 kya) the ice spread southwards from the country’s mountains, destroying all life in its path and eventually covering the whole of Sweden. With more of Earth’s water locked in the ice, sea levels were low and the Øresund became a land bridge between Denmark and Sweden.

Around 19 kya as the ice began to recede in the south; plants, animals and humans started to move into Sweden. 

The first traces of human presence are from Mölleröd, Hässleholm Municipality, northern Scania, where the finds (dated by comparative technology only) indicate brief visits by people of the Hamburg culture (15.5-13.1 kya).

Permanent occupation began with people of the Bromme culture (13.6-12.5 kya), their first known site being Segebro, Malmo Municipality, in the southwest corner of Scania. Tools of the Ahrensburg culture (12.9-11.7 kya) from north-central Europe have been found scattered across Scania.

Late Upper Palaeolithic (15-11.7 kya)

During the Last Glacial Period (LGP, 115-11.7 kya) the ice spread southwards from the country’s mountains, destroying all life in its path and eventually covering the whole of Sweden. With more of Earth’s water locked in the ice, sea levels were low and the Øresund became a land bridge between Denmark and Sweden.

  Around 19 kya as the ice began to recede in the south; plants, animals and humans started to move into Sweden. 

The first traces of human presence are from Mölleröd, Hässleholm Municipality, northern Scania, where the finds (dated by comparative technology only) indicate brief visits by people of the Hamburg culture (15.5-13.1 kya).

Permanent occupation began with people of the Bromme culture (13.6-12.5 kya), their first known site being Segebro, Malmo Municipality, in the southwest corner of Scania. Tools of the Ahrensburg culture (12.9-11.7 kya) from north-central Europe have been found scattered across Scania.