A groundbreaking interdisciplinary research initiative, the SEASCAPE project, has been launched to explore the presence of submerged prehistoric structures on the floor of the western Baltic Sea. Led by the Leibniz Institute for Baltic Sea Research (IOW), the project aims to shed new light on cultural landscapes that were once above sea level but are now hidden beneath the waves.
Discovery of a Potential Late Pleistocene Hunting Structure
The origin of the project lies in the discovery of a remarkable linear stone formation located 21 meters below sea level in the Mecklenburg Bight, near Rerik. Extending approximately one kilometre, this structure is believed to have been constructed by hunter-gatherer communities around 11,000 years ago, in the late Pleistocene, before the Baltic Sea expanded into the region.
Preliminary assessments suggest that the stones may have served as a large-scale hunting trap. The SEASCAPE team will use a range of scientific methods — including geophysical surveys, geological sampling, and underwater archaeology — to verify the human origin and functional purpose of the structure.
Broader Archaeological and Environmental Investigations
The scope of SEASCAPE goes beyond this single site. Historical hydroacoustic data from areas such as the Flensburg Fjord and Fehmarn Sound indicate the potential presence of additional large-scale underwater features. These areas are now scheduled for high-resolution seabed mapping and scientific analysis.
The project also includes paleoenvironmental reconstruction to understand the ecological and climatic conditions that shaped human activity in the region during the Mesolithic period. By doing so, the research seeks to contextualize these submerged structures within broader patterns of human settlement and adaptation.
Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Approach
SEASCAPE is a collaborative project involving several leading German research institutions, including the Leibniz Centre for Archaeology (LEIZA), the University of Rostock, and Kiel University (CAU). Additionally, the State Office for Culture and Monument Preservation of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the State Archaeology Department of Schleswig-Holstein are providing institutional support, particularly regarding cultural heritage protection.
The project builds upon earlier foundational research conducted by IOW in the early 2000s, during which submerged prehistoric shorelines and lakes were first identified and mapped using marine geophysical techniques.
Recognized Scientific Innovation
Funded through the “Cooperative Excellence” program of the Leibniz Association, SEASCAPE has secured nearly €1 million for its three-year duration. In recognition of its innovative integration of marine geology, archaeology, and landscape research, the project received a special mention from the North German Science Prize in December 2024.
Advancing the Understanding of Europe’s Prehistoric Past
SEASCAPE represents a significant step forward in the study of submerged prehistoric landscapes in Northern Europe. Through a combination of advanced technology and interdisciplinary collaboration, the project promises to enhance our understanding of Mesolithic societies and the ways in which they interacted with and adapted to their environments.
Baltic Sea Research Warnemünde (IOW)
Cover Image Credit: Graphical reconstruction of the stone wall as a hunting structure in a glacial landscape. Michał Grabowski
