Detector sites and settlement archaeology on Bornholm. A survey of “productive sites” from the Iron Age and the Viking Age 1996–1999

Abstract Extensive phosphate mapping and analysis of samples from culture layers has provided an overview of the extent and state of preservation of 31 selected settlements with preserved settlement layers from the Iron Age and the Viking Age on Bornholm. Problems associated with the investigation methods and representativity of the material are discussed against the background of preliminary analyses of 30000 artefacts recovered either as surface finds or with the aid of metal detectors from more than 400 settlement sites. A small number of representative settlements is presented along with an overview of the most important finds. The article concludes with an outline of settlement development.