Transcript Birds in neolithic and mesolithic graves in northern Europe

Birds in Neolithic and
Mesolithic graves in
Northern Europe
Kristiina Mannermaa
Institute of Cultural Research, Department of
Archaeology, PO Box 59, 00014 University of Helsinki.
[email protected]
ICAZ Paris 23rd-28th April 2010. The animal in funerary space
Many roles of birds in graves
Decoration of the grave, garments, clothes
etc.
bones fashioned to beads and pendants
feathers
symbolic aspects
In ritual and ideology
power animals, help spirits
totem animals
color symbolism
carriers, soul birds
Sites
Zvejnieki, Northern Latvia
Multiperiodical site (ca.
7000-3000 cal BC)
Island on Ancient lake
Burtnieks
320 graves excavated in
1960, 2006, 2007
Rich burials
Well preserved
Ajvide, Gotland, Sweden
Graves ca. 29002300 cal BC (Middle
Neolithic)
81 graves
excavated in 19862009
Richl graves
Well preserved
Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, NW
Russia
Mesolithic, ca. 70006200 cal BC
Island on lake Onega
excavated in 1936,
1938
Rich burials
Well preserved
Gurina 1956
Does the animal bone really
belong to the burial or relating
actions?
Contexts
Taphonomic history of the site
C14 dates
Zvejnieki, grave 164
Adult male: 5230±95 BP
Diver (Gavia sp.) bone
5770±55 BP
Mannermaa et al. 2007
Zvejnieki: grave 165
Adult male: 5480±100 BP
Jay bone: 5250±55 BP
Atmospheric data from Reimer et al (2004);OxCal v3.10 Bronk Ramsey (2005); cub r:5 sd:12 prob usp[chron]
Människa 5480±100BP
Nötskrika 5250±80BP
5500CalBC
5000CalBC
4500CalBC
4000CalBC
3500CalBC
Calibrated date
Anatidae: 10 690±80 BP !!!
Mannermaa et al. 2007
Decoration
Beads and pendants
Wing bones of waterbirds
(mainly ducks)
Photo H. Birznieks
Examples:
Photo K. Mannermaa
Zvejnieki: Child grave
190
11 bird humerus pendants (e.g.,
Mallard, Goosander, Red-breasted
merganser and indet. ducks)
Photo H. Birznieks
Zagorskis 1987
Ajvide: Beads in
a double child
grave 52
Photo Göran Burenhult
Beads and Dentaliumshells in double burial at
Ire, Gotland
Beads in the head region in
grave 4 at Ire, Gotland
G. Janzon: Gotlands stenåldersgravar 1974
Uses of bead and pendants
Nihlen, J. 1927.
Gotlands stenåldersboplatser
Zagorskis, F. 1961.
Kreicu neolita kapulauks.
Arheologia un etnografija 3.
Pentikäinen et al. 1998. Samaanit
Jakutian shaman
(Early twentieth century)
Meanings of decoration:
Aesthetic
-feathers
-pairs
Symbolic aspects:
–dual symbolism?
–use of certain species and
anatomical elements
Voice from hanging pendants
others?
What are these?
Ajvide: female grave 62
Photos K. Mannermaa
Musical instruments? Wind
chimes?
Photos K. Mannermaa
Cut bird tarsometatarsi --What
are they?
Ajvide: Grave 2
Cormorant
Photo G. Burenhult
geo.atspace.com/assets/images/visuals/Double
Ajvide: Female grave 62
Cut crane
tarsometatarsi
Photos K. Mannermaa
Bird parts as agents of
beliefs and ideology
Power animals, help spirits (cf. the Saami)
Carriers (soul birds)
colour symbolism
parts of totem animals
Examples:
Zvejnieki: Grave 164
Adult male: 5230±95 BP
Over 40 wing bones (cmc) of the
Jay (Garrulus glandarius) all
over the body
On the chest
Near the right arm
Mannermaa et al. 2007
Photos H. Birznieks
other grave goods, e.g.:
-Near the ear jewellery made
of 11 mammal teeth (wild
boar, elk, aurochs, dog and
otter)
-16 spearheads
Blue wings of the jay
– colour symbolism?
Clan of the jay? -- analogy with
historical Siberian tribes?
Jay carpometacarpi were found
in three additional burials
photo H. Hautala
Ajvide:
Red-throated diver
bones in grave 7
Adult male
Two ulnae and
one radius in the
find concentration
Representing a
power animal?
Photos K. Mannermaa
Photo G. Burenhult
Other finds in collection:
Metacarpi/-tarsi of the Arctic hare (Lepus
timidus)
Seal tooth pendants
Pig/wild boar (Sus scrofa) tusk pendant
Bone points
Flint artifacts
Stone axe
Zvejnieki: Young male in
grave 153
(Early Neolithic 5745±65 BP)
Aythya sp.
Photos H. Birznieks
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Zagorskis 1987
Other finds in the grave:
Head dress made of animal tooth
pendants
animal tooth pendants all over the body
wild boar tusk
bone point
red-ochre
Grave VII in Tamula, southern
Estonia (5760±45 BP)
- About 7-year old child
- Ulnae of the crane (Grus grus)
at both hands
Jaanits et al. 1982
Common aspects on birds in
cemeteries:
Symbolic and decorative beads and
pendants
Use of wings or parts of wings
water birds were important in ritual and
ideological practices
No birds of prey (some exceptions…)
Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov…
White-tailed sea eagle
(Haliaeetus albicilla)
Osprey (Pandion
haliaetus)
Leg elements common
Interpretations can
hardly be made due to
lost contextual data
Only unworked bird
bones have been
studied so far
Thank you for your attention!
Neolithic rock carving in Kanozero, NW Russia