Stenaldercenter Ertebølle

About the museum

The Stenaldercenter Ertebølle lies on the shore of the Limfjord in Vesthimmerland, only a few hundred meters from one of the most important sites of Danish archaeology: the Køkkenmødding of Ertebølle, a large refuse heap of oyster and mussel shells that people of the late Stone Age piled up over roughly a thousand years.

In excavations between 1893 and 1897, in which zoologists also took part, the heap was thoroughly investigated. The results made it possible for the first time to describe and date a distinct culture of the late hunter-gatherer period, which was named the Ertebølle culture after the site. The heap was originally about 140 meters long and up to two meters high and consists mostly of oyster shells.

Since 2013 the state-recognized Vesthimmerlands Museum has operated the center. In summer, interpreters in reconstructed Stone Age huts tell about the life of the Ertebølle people; visitors can try archery, paddle in a dugout canoe, twist cord or search for traces in an archaeological sandbox.

The surrounding landscape is part of the experience: the up to 20-meter-high mo-clay cliff Ertebølle Hoved with Tertiary fossils, the Bronze Age burial mound Myrhøj with its row of stones, as well as beach, forest and heath, which can be explored on guided tours.

Highlights

• Reconstructed Stone Age huts with interpreters in summer
• Ertebølle Køkkenmødding, the type site of the Ertebølle culture
• Archery, dugout canoe paddling and other hands-on activities
• Archaeological sandbox for children
• Fossil-rich mo-clay cliff Ertebølle Hoved

Operated by

Vesthimmerlands Museum

Director

Louise Villadsen

Admission & discounts

Off-season: adults DKK 70, retirees and students DKK 60. In season: adults DKK 95, retirees and students DKK 85, groups of 15 or more DKK 85. Dogs have free admission.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Accessible entrance; all-terrain wheelchairs can be borrowed for guests with walking difficulties.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations

Families can try Stone Age crafts themselves: archery, spear throwing, dugout canoeing, cord twisting, painting with Stone Age colors and grinding grain. There is also an archaeological sandbox. Activities with interpreters take place mainly in summer.

Getting there & parking

New information boards lead from the parking lot along a field path of just under 1 km to the Køkkenmødding.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Museum shop with hot and cold drinks as well as small snacks. Large dining hall with a view of the water in which you may eat food you bring yourself; outdoor seating in good weather. In summer, picnic baskets can be rented (DKK 160, with bird or fossil backpack DKK 250).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this – please ask the museum directly.

Plan your visit