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Animals and Cotswold-Severn Long Barrows: a Re-examination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  04 March 2013

Richard Thomas  and
Lesley McFadyen
Richard Thomas
Affiliation:
School of Archaeology and Ancient History, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester, LE1 [email protected]
Lesley McFadyen
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto, Via Panorâmica, s/n, 4150-564 Porto, Portugal
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Abstract

In this paper new collaborative research is presented following a re-examination of the faunal remains and architectural evidence from a selected number of Cotswold-Severn long barrow sites. Five different loci of deposition are considered: ‘pre-barrow’ contexts; the chambers; the superstructure of the barrow and the ditches; the forecourt; and blocking material. These spatial locations were chosen following research that has demonstrated that these areas are likely to represent different temporal, as well as spatial, patterns of activity. While the faunal remains are diverse in character, common themes observed at the sites include: the deposition of complete or partial remains of foetal and young animals within chambers; the use of teeth and cranial elements within blocking material; and, within each temporal context, the absence of clear evidence for feasting and the importance of cattle, and the small but constant inclusion of wild mammals. This complexity of practice has the potential to mature our thinking regarding the nature of human–animal relationships within the early Neolithic of Britain and provide a secure foundation of evidence for subsequent interpretations.

Résumé

Dans cette étude nous présentons de nouvelles recherches fruit d'une collaboration à la suite à d'un ré-examen des vestiges de faune et des témoignages architecturaux d'un nombre choisi de sites de tertres en longeur de la régiom Cotswold-Severn Nous avons pris en compte cinq lieux de dépôt différents: des contextes ‘pré-tertre’; les chambres; la superstructure du tertre et les fossés; l'avant-cour et le matériel d'obstruction. Ces situations spatiales ont été choisies suite à des recherches qui ont démontré que ces zones étaient susceptibles de représenter des modes d'activités différents dans le temps aussi bien que dans l'espace. Tandis que les restes d'animaux ont des caractéristiques diverses, les thèmes communs observés sur les différents sites sont les suivants: le dépôt de restes complets ou partiels de fœtus ou de jeunes animaux à l'intérieur des chambres, l'utilisation de dents et d'éléments craniens dans les matériaux d'obstruction; et à l'intérieur de chaque contexte temporel, l'absence de témoignage clair de festin et de l'importance du bétail, et la petite mais constante présence de mammifères sauvages. La complexité de ces pratiques nous offre l'occasion de mûrir nos pensées en ce qui concerne la nature des relations homme–animal dans le cadre du néolithique ancien en Grande-Bretagne et nous fournit une solide base de témoignages pour des interprétations ultérieures.

Résumen

En este trabajo se presenta una nueva investigación en colaboración tras un reexamen de los restos de fauna y de la evidencia arquitectónica de yacimientos escogidos de túmulos alargados en Cotswold-Severn. Se contemplan cinco lugares de deposición distintos: contextos “pre-túmulo”; las cámaras; la superestructura del túmulo y de los fosos; el patio; y el material utilizado para bloquearlos. Estas localidades espaciales fueron elegidas tras una investigación que ha demostrado que estas áreas probablemente representan diversos modelos de actividad temporal y espacial. Mientras que los restos faunísticos son diversos en carácter, los temas comunes observados en los yacimientos incluyen: la deposición del restos completos o parciales de fetos de animales y animales jóvenes dentro de las cámaras; el uso de dientes y de elementos craneales dentro del material de bloqueo; y, dentro de cada contexto temporal, la ausencia de evidencia clara de banquetes y la importancia de ganados, y de la pequeña pero constante inclusión de mamíferos salvajes. Esta complejidad de práctica tiene el potencial de madurar nuestro pensamiento sobre la naturaleza de las relaciones hombre-animal en el primer neolítico de Gran Bretaña y de proporcionar una base segura de evidencia para interpretaciones posteriores.

Zusammenfassung

In diesem Beitrag wird die neue gemeinschaftliche Forschung präsentiert, die aus einer neuerlichen Untersuchung der tierischen Funde und archäologischen Daten einer Auswahl von Cotswold-Severn Langhügelgräbern resultiert. Fünf verschiedene mögliche Niederlegungsorte werden untersucht: der Raum außerhalb des Langhügels (pre-barrow); die Kammern; der Oberbau des Hügels und die Gräben; der Vorhof; das Verschlussmaterial. Diese Stellen wurden ausgewählt auf der Basis von Forschungen, die zeigten, dass diese Areale sehr wahrscheinlich unterschiedliche zeitliche und auch räumliche Aktivitätssequenzen reflektieren. Während die tierischen Funde von unterschiedlicher Art sind, gibt es einige gemeinsame Themen in allen Fundplätzen, z.B. die Niederlegung kompletter oder teilweiser neugeborener und junger Tiere innerhalb der Kammern, die Verwendung von Zähnen und Schädelelementen innerhalb des Verschlussmaterials, sowie in jedem zeitlichen Kontext das Fehlen eindeutiger Hinweise auf Feste und die Bedeutung von Rind sowie das konstante Vorhandensein von Wildsäugern, wenn auch in kleiner Zahl. Diese Komplexität von Praktiken kann helfen unsere Vorstellungen von der Natur der Mensch-Tier-Beziehungen im frühen Neolithikum Großbritanniens weiterzuentwickeln und eine sichere Datenbasis für weitere Interpretationen zu erlangen.

Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society , Volume 76 , 2010 , pp. 95 - 113
Copyright
Copyright © The Prehistoric Society 2010

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