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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. kristiina.mannermaa@helsinki.fi. ICAZ Paris 23rd-28th April 2010. The animal in funerary space.

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Birds in Neolithic and Mesolithic graves in Northern Europe

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  1. 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. kristiina.mannermaa@helsinki.fi ICAZ Paris 23rd-28th April 2010. The animal in funerary space

  2. 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

  3. Sites Yuzhniy Oleniy ostrov Zvejnieki Ajvide

  4. 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

  5. Ajvide, Gotland, Sweden • Graves ca. 2900-2300 cal BC (Middle Neolithic) • 81 graves excavated in 1986-2009 • Richl graves • Well preserved

  6. Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, NW Russia • Mesolithic, ca. 7000-6200 cal BC • Island on lake Onega • excavated in 1936, 1938 • Rich burials • Well preserved Gurina 1956

  7. Does the animal bone really belong to the burial or relating actions? • Contexts • Taphonomic history of the site • C14 dates

  8. Zvejnieki, grave 164 Adult male: 5230±95 BP Diver (Gavia sp.) bone 5770±55 BP Mannermaa et al. 2007

  9. Zvejnieki: grave 165 Adult male: 5480±100 BP Jay bone: 5250±55 BP Anatidae:10 690±80BP !!! Mannermaa et al. 2007

  10. Decoration • Beads and pendants • Wing bones of waterbirds (mainly ducks) • Examples: Photo H. Birznieks Photo K. Mannermaa

  11. Zvejnieki: Child grave 190 • 11 bird humerus pendants (e.g., Mallard, Goosander, Red-breasted merganserand indet. ducks) Photo H. Birznieks Zagorskis 1987

  12. Ajvide: Beads in a double child grave 52 Photo GöranBurenhult

  13. Beads in the head region in grave 4 at Ire, Gotland Beads and Dentalium-shells in double burial at Ire, Gotland G. Janzon: Gotlands stenåldersgravar 1974

  14. Uses of bead and pendants Nihlen, J. 1927. Gotlands stenåldersboplatser Zagorskis, F. 1961. Kreicu neolita kapulauks. Arheologia un etnografija 3. Jakutian shaman (Early twentieth century) Pentikäinen et al. 1998. Samaanit

  15. Meanings of decoration: • Aesthetic -feathers -pairs • Symbolic aspects: • dual symbolism? • use of certain species and anatomical elements • Voice from hanging pendants • others?

  16. What are these? Ajvide: female grave 62 Photos K. Mannermaa

  17. Musical instruments? Wind chimes? Photos K. Mannermaa

  18. Cut bird tarsometatarsi--What are they? Ajvide: Grave 2 Cormorant Photo G. Burenhult geo.atspace.com/assets/images/visuals/Double

  19. Ajvide: Female grave 62 Cut crane tarsometatarsi Photos K. Mannermaa

  20. Bird parts as agents ofbeliefs and ideology • Power animals, help spirits (cf. the Saami) • Carriers (soul birds) • colour symbolism • parts of totem animals • Examples:

  21. 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 Photos H. Birznieks Mannermaa et al. 2007

  22. other grave goods, e.g.: -Near the ear jewellery made of 11 mammal teeth (wild boar, elk, aurochs, dog and otter) -16 spearheads

  23. 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

  24. Adult male Two ulnae and one radius in the find concentration Representing a power animal? Ajvide: Red-throated diver bones in grave 7 Photo G. Burenhult Photos K. Mannermaa

  25. 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

  26. Zvejnieki: Young male in grave 153 (Early Neolithic 5745±65 BP) Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Aythya sp. Photos H. Birznieks Zagorskis 1987

  27. 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

  28. 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

  29. 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…)

  30. 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

  31. Thank you for your attention! Neolithic rock carving in Kanozero, NW Russia

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