“Smoke and Sea”:Unveiling Food Preservation in Bronze Age Heiloo

This study explores Bronze Age fish preservation at Heiloo (Netherlands), where archaeological evidence of large codfish and multiple smoking pits reveals sophisticated techniques for extending food resources. The use of juniper for smoking, likely seasonal, points to a specialized coastal economy with potential trade connections. These findings challenge the notion of preservation as purely subsistence-driven, instead suggesting economic and social organization around maritime resources. Methodologically, the research highlights the importance of fine-mesh sieving and interdisciplinary analysis to identify micro-remains and processing structures. Heiloo’s well-preserved drift-sand landscape provides a rare opportunity to study prehistoric coastal life, though modern development threatens its integrity. The study calls for systematic excavation and protection to further uncover the role of preservation technologies in early trade networks and daily life.