Reindeer hunters’ campsite

Reindeer hunters’ campsite - 11,000 years ago

The daily life of a reindeer hunter was harsh. Fortunately, reindeer hunters were smart and cunning. From this high point they had a great view over the valley where passing reindeer came to drink from the stream. They also found enough water in a nearby fen, as well as material for cooking. There was also enough material, like flexible branches, to build huts. It makes sense that they would set up camp here!

And did you know this reindeer hunters’ campsite was discovered by accident? Soldiers dug pits during their military exercises. Many stones came to the surface in these pits. A local resident immediately realised that the chipped flints were not a pile of rubbish but a real archaeological treasure.

Task: 

Play ‘Camp in order’. (click here). Can you find the differences between the two drawings of the reindeer hunters’ campsite?

The first 4-star campsite in Zonhoven

From the point of view of a travelling hunting group, this location was a true 4-star campsite. First of all, the Roosterbeek provided drinking water for both people and animals. From his high vantage point on the edge of the Kempen Plateau, man had a good view of the game that came to drink in the valley at the Roosterbeek. He found edible plants both in the valley and on the dry plateau above. High on the valley side, but just below the plateau edge, even on a north-facing slope it was still pleasantly warm compared to conditions down in the valley. The south-facing slope was not suitable because it was teeming with mosquitoes.

Nothing remains of the tent structures. By researching tribes that still live in the same conditions today, we can try to get an idea of what happened. The tent structures that are now on the site are intended to give the impression of an abandoned tent camp from the time of the reindeer hunters and should certainly not be seen as reconstructions.

Traces of the same reindeer hunters have been found in both the caves of Remouchamps and in Geldrop near Eindhoven in the Netherlands. Zonhoven was therefore on the migration route of the reindeer that migrated from the Ardennes to the Netherlands and vice versa in spring and autumn. A thorough analysis of reindeer teeth and antlers shows that the reindeer moved south (Ardennes, Eifel) in the spring to spend the summer there. The abundant vegetation allowed the young animals to build up sufficient fat reserves. There were far too many mosquitoes and other pesky insects in the numerous puddles in the lowlands at the time that were particularly annoying for the newborn animals. During the winter the reindeer stayed in the open lowlands.

The Zonhoven Reindeer Hunters Site is located right in the middle between the reindeer's summer and winter areas.

Source

Quaternary International, 2011, blz. 272

Listening story

Dad: No, I don't mind that you went back to the camp Lara, but next time you should say so. Hunting is too dangerous....

Lara: Yes Daddy....

Dad: But it's very clever that you shot a reindeer!

Lara: Yes! (in the background with a fade: ….. and Mum…. I came from behind to the left, and I crept  so quietly that the all the reindeer just kept grazing. And I aimed and…. waka. My spear straight through the neck.... Yes, of course,  the other reindeer..... (mum laughs in background)

Orin: (falls in) See Lara sitting there, atop her very first hunting trophy. A reindeer of about four months I estimate. Still small, but Lara is strong and brave, she has proved that now.

Orin: Soon we will hang the reindeer over the fire. Barbecue it you would say...but first we have to remove the skin. We can put that to good use.

Orin: (in the action) To skin the animals, we also use flints. If you cut like this,...between the muscle and the skin you get a skin in one piece. Hold that hoof Lara... Be careful not to tear it because the skins have to keep the rain out. And from the skin of that little reindeer we'll make a water bag.

Dad: Scrape the skin well Lara, look, like this (sound scraping) otherwise the skins will become too hard when they dry, and then we won't be able to roll them up to continue hiking. Then they break.

Orin: Every year we come back here. The camp is so well  positioned,  Mama calls it our 5-star campsite.

Mama: (in the distance) 4 stars when there are mosquitoes.

Orin: Look what a view we have here. From our tents we can see into the distance below, the stream where the reindeer come to drink. (Just think the forest away, because those trees weren't there then) The tents are far enough away so the reindeer don't notice us and close enough to see them clearly. And look behind you: here, just below the hilltop, the bleak wind blows over us. Clever! And the little pond between the trees, behind the tents, is usually full of fresh water when we are here. So if we want to cook, we have everything to hand.

Dad: Are the quartzite stones  already in the fire?  

Orin:  Yes, they are almost hot enough.

Orin: (in the action) look, this is how we make soup. A pit in the ground; in it we lay a reindeer skin and then water in it.  

Orin: Usually mum looks for the herbs near the camp. Nettle, is nutritious and if you cook it it doesn't sting anymore. Wild thyme, a tough herb, which can stand the cold very well.  And here the young shoots of the hogweed. Delicious but you have to be careful because if it gets too big it can burn you. Voila!

And now the stones: Oi careful, that's hot. In they go. Now the water will soon be warm. Throw in some more stones later, it will boil. (slurps at the soup. blowing mmm)

Orin; Say, I want to show you something I discovered a bit further on. A skeleton, a big skeleton with a big G or no a big M. of MMMMam skeleton (laughter.) are you coming?