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The paddles
The paddle from Ølby Lyng at Køge Bugt is from the Ertebølle period. The hunters came here in the autumn to hunt harp seals and fish for cod on the open sea with net, hook and line.

The paddles

The dugout boat was driven forward with the help of paddles or a wooden pole. Some paddles were long shafted with oval or rounded blades, whilst others were short with wide, heart-shaped blades. The shape was probably dependent on whether they were used to manoeuvre the boat on the open sea or in shallow water. However, the paddle’s shape may also have been intended to suit its user.

The paddles
Finds of heart-shaped paddles include those from the underwater Stone Age settlement at Tybrind Vig on Fyn. Some of these paddles were decorated with beautiful geometric patterns with inlaid colour. Perhaps the patterns showed who the paddle’s owner was, or which tribe he or she belonged to.