Archaeologists have uncovered a Stone Age settlement beneath the Bay of Aarhus in Denmark, believed to be more than 8,500 years old. The discovery was made as part of a six-year, €13.2 million EU-funded project mapping submerged landscapes in the Baltic and North Seas, involving teams from Denmark, the UK, and Germany.
Divers explored around 8 meters underwater to study the site, which was preserved by rising sea levels after the last Ice Age. Excavations have revealed artifacts including animal bones, stone tools, arrowheads, a seal tooth, worked wood, and hazelnuts. Researchers are carefully digging layer by layer to uncover more, including possible fishing tools and settlement structures.
The settlement belonged to the Ertebølle culture, which thrived during a warmer, moister period in Northern Europe. By examining how these ancient communities adapted to changing coastlines, scientists hope to gain insights into both past resilience and modern challenges posed by climate change and rising sea levels.
