Birds in Neolithic and Birds in Neolithic and Mesolithic graves in Mesolithic graves in
Northern EuropeNorthern Europe
Kristiina MannermaaKristiina Mannermaa
Institute of Cultural Research, Department of Institute of Cultural Research, Department of Archaeology, PO Box 59, 00014 University of Helsinki. Archaeology, PO Box 59, 00014 University of Helsinki.
[email protected]@helsinki.fi
ICAZ Paris 23rd-28th April 2010. The animal in funerary space
Many roles of birds in gravesMany roles of birds in graves
Decoration of the grave, garments, clothes Decoration of the grave, garments, clothes etc.etc.
bones fashioned to beads and pendantsbones fashioned to beads and pendants
feathersfeathers
symbolic aspectssymbolic aspects
In ritual and ideologyIn ritual and ideologypower animals, help spiritspower animals, help spirits
totem animalstotem animals
color symbolismcolor symbolism
carriers, soul birdscarriers, soul birds
SitesSites
Zvejnieki, Northern LatviaZvejnieki, Northern Latvia
Multiperiodical site (ca. Multiperiodical site (ca. 7000-3000 cal BC)7000-3000 cal BC)
Island on Ancient lake Island on Ancient lake BurtnieksBurtnieks
320 graves excavated in 320 graves excavated in 1960, 2006, 20071960, 2006, 2007
Rich burialsRich burials
Well preservedWell preserved
Ajvide, Gotland, SwedenAjvide, Gotland, Sweden
Graves ca. 2900-Graves ca. 2900-2300 cal BC (Middle 2300 cal BC (Middle Neolithic)Neolithic)
81 graves 81 graves excavated in 1986-excavated in 1986-20092009
Richl gravesRichl graves
Well preservedWell preserved
Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, NW Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, NW RussiaRussia
Mesolithic, ca. 7000-Mesolithic, ca. 7000-6200 cal BC6200 cal BC
Island on lake OnegaIsland on lake Onega
excavated in 1936, excavated in 1936, 19381938
Rich burialsRich burials
Well preservedWell preserved
Gurina 1956
Does the animal bone really Does the animal bone really belong to the burial or relating belong to the burial or relating
actions?actions?
ContextsContexts
Taphonomic history of the siteTaphonomic history of the site
C14 datesC14 dates
Zvejnieki, grave 164Zvejnieki, grave 164
Adult male: Adult male: 5230±95 BP5230±95 BP
Diver (Diver (GaviaGavia sp.) bone sp.) bone 5770±555770±55 BP BP
Mannermaa et al. 2007
Zvejnieki: grave 165Zvejnieki: grave 165
Adult male: 5480±100 BPAdult male: 5480±100 BP
Jay bone: 5250±55Jay bone: 5250±55 BP BP
Anatidae:Anatidae: 10 690±8010 690±80 BP BP !!!!!!
Mannermaa et al. 2007
Atmospheric data from Reimer et al (2004);OxCal v3.10 Bronk Ramsey (2005); cub r:5 sd:12 prob usp[chron]
5500CalBC 5000CalBC 4500CalBC 4000CalBC 3500CalBC
Calibrated date
Människa 5480±100BP
Nötskrika 5250±80BP
DecorationDecoration
Beads and pendantsBeads and pendantsWing bones of waterbirds Wing bones of waterbirds (mainly ducks)(mainly ducks)
Examples:Examples:
Photo H. Birznieks
Photo K. Mannermaa
Zvejnieki: CZvejnieki: Child hild grave grave 190190
111 bird humerus pendants (1 bird humerus pendants (e.g., e.g., Mallard, GoosanderMallard, Goosander, , Red-breastedRed-breasted mmergansererganser and and iindet. ducks)ndet. ducks)
Zagorskis 1987
Photo H. Birznieks
Ajvide: Beads in a double child grave 52
Photo Göran Burenhult
Beads and Dentalium-shells in double burial at Ire, Gotland
Beads in the head region in grave 4 at Ire, Gotland
G. Janzon: Gotlands stenåldersgravar 1974
Jakutian shaman(Early twentieth century)Pentikäinen et al. 1998. Samaanit
Uses of bead and pendants
Nihlen, J. 1927.Gotlands stenåldersboplatser
Zagorskis, F. 1961.Kreicu neolita kapulauks.Arheologia un etnografija 3.
Meanings of decoration:Meanings of decoration:
AestheticAesthetic-feathers-feathers-pairs-pairs
Symbolic aspects:Symbolic aspects:–dual symbolism?dual symbolism?–use of certain species and use of certain species and
anatomical elementsanatomical elementsVoice from hanging pendantsVoice from hanging pendantsothers?others?
Photos K. Mannermaa
Ajvide: female grave 62
What are these?
Musical instruments? Wind Musical instruments? Wind chimes?chimes?
Photos K. Mannermaa
Ajvide: Grave 2
geo.atspace.com/assets/images/visuals/Double
Cut bird tarsometatarsi --What are they?
Photo G. Burenhult
Cormorant
Ajvide: Female grave 62
Cut crane tarsometatarsi
Photos K. Mannermaa
Bird parts as agents ofBird parts as agents ofbeliefs and ideologybeliefs and ideology
Power animals, help spirits (cf. the Saami)Power animals, help spirits (cf. the Saami)
Carriers (soul birds)Carriers (soul birds)
colour symbolismcolour symbolism
parts of totem animalsparts of totem animals
Examples:Examples:
Zvejnieki: Grave 164Zvejnieki: Grave 164
Adult male: 5230±95 BPAdult male: 5230±95 BPOver 40 wing bones (cmc) of the Over 40 wing bones (cmc) of the Jay (Jay (Garrulus glandarius) Garrulus glandarius) all all over the bodyover the body
Mannermaa et al. 2007
Near the right arm
On the chest
Photos H. Birznieks
other grave goods, e.g.:other grave goods, e.g.:
-Near the ear jewellery made -Near the ear jewellery made of 11 mammal teeth (wild of 11 mammal teeth (wild boar, elk, aurochs, dog and boar, elk, aurochs, dog and otter)otter)
-16 spearheads-16 spearheads
Blue wings of the jayBlue wings of the jay– colour symbolism?colour symbolism?
Clan of the jay? -- analogy with Clan of the jay? -- analogy with historical Siberian tribes?historical Siberian tribes?
Jay carpometacarpi were found Jay carpometacarpi were found in three additional burialsin three additional burials photo H. Hautala
Adult maleAdult male
Two ulnae and Two ulnae and one radius in the one radius in the find concentrationfind concentration
Representing a Representing a power animal?power animal?
Ajvide:Red-throated diver bones in grave 7
Photo G. Burenhult
Photos K. Mannermaa
Metacarpi/-tarsi of the Arctic hare (Metacarpi/-tarsi of the Arctic hare (Lepus Lepus timidustimidus))Seal tooth pendantsSeal tooth pendantsPig/wild boar (Pig/wild boar (Sus scrofa)Sus scrofa) tusk pendant tusk pendantBone pointsBone pointsFlint artifactsFlint artifactsStone axeStone axe
Other finds in collection:Other finds in collection:
Zvejnieki: Young male in grave 153
(Early NeolithicEarly Neolithic 5745±65 BP))
Aythya sp. MallardAnas platyrhynchos
Zagorskis 1987
Photos H. Birznieks
Other finds in the grave:Other finds in the grave:
Head dress made of animal tooth Head dress made of animal tooth pendantspendants
animal tooth pendants all over the bodyanimal tooth pendants all over the body
wild boar tuskwild boar tusk
bone pointbone point
red-ochrered-ochre
Grave VII in Tamula, southern Grave VII in Tamula, southern Estonia Estonia (5760±45 BP)
- About 7-year old child- Ulnae of the crane (Grus grus) at both hands
Jaanits et al. 1982
Symbolic and decorative beads and Symbolic and decorative beads and pendantspendants
Use of wings or parts of wingsUse of wings or parts of wings
water birds were important in ritual and water birds were important in ritual and ideological practicesideological practices
No birds of prey (some exceptions…)No birds of prey (some exceptions…)
Common aspects on birds in cemeteries:
Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov…Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov…White-tailed sea eagle White-tailed sea eagle ((Haliaeetus albicillaHaliaeetus albicilla))
Osprey (Osprey (Pandion Pandion haliaetushaliaetus))
Leg elements commonLeg elements common
Interpretations can Interpretations can hardly be made due to hardly be made due to lost contextual datalost contextual data
Only unworked bird Only unworked bird bones have been bones have been studied so farstudied so far
Neolithic rock carving in Kanozero, NW Russia
Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!