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Feeding Stonehenge: cuisine and consumption at the Late Neolithic site of Durrington Walls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 October 2015

Oliver E. Craig ,
Lisa-Marie Shillito ,
Umberto Albarella ,
Sarah Viner-Daniels ,
Ben Chan ,
Ros Cleal ,
Robert Ixer ,
Mandy Jay ,
Pete Marshall  and
Ellen Simmons
...Show all authors
Oliver E. Craig
Affiliation:
BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK (Email: [email protected])
Lisa-Marie Shillito
Affiliation:
BioArCh, Department of Archaeology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK (Email: [email protected]) School of History, Classics and Archaeology, Armstrong Building, Newcastle University, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
Umberto Albarella
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield S1 4ET, UK
Sarah Viner-Daniels
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield S1 4ET, UK
Ben Chan
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield S1 4ET, UK Laboratory for Artefact Studies, Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Postbus 9514 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands
Ros Cleal
Affiliation:
Alexander Keiller Museum, High Street, Avebury, Marlborough SN8 1RF, UK
Robert Ixer
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY, UK
Mandy Jay
Affiliation:
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Department of Human Evolution, Deutscher Platz 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
Pete Marshall
Affiliation:
Historic England, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138–142 Holborn, London, EC1N 2ST, UK
Ellen Simmons
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield S1 4ET, UK
Elizabeth Wright
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield S1 4ET, UK
Mike Parker Pearson
Affiliation:
Institute of Archaeology, University College London, 31–34 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PY, UK
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Abstract

The discovery of Neolithic houses at Durrington Walls that are contemporary with the main construction phase of Stonehenge raised questions as to their interrelationship. Was Durrington Walls the residence of the builders of Stonehenge? Were the activities there more significant than simply domestic subsistence? Using lipid residue analysis, this paper identifies the preferential use of certain pottery types for the preparation of particular food groups and differential consumption of dairy and meat products between monumental and domestic areas of the site. Supported by the analysis of faunal remains, the results suggest seasonal feasting and perhaps organised culinary unification of a diverse community.

Keywords

UKStonehengeNeolithicfeastingisotopic lipid residue analysispublic and private consumption
Type
Research
Information
Antiquity , Volume 89 , Issue 347 , October 2015 , pp. 1096 - 1109
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd, 2015 

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