Author:
Petrović Anđa,Macāne Aija,Strautnieks Ivars,Kalniņa Laimdota,Holmqvist Elisabeth,Hunter Emily M.,Pomstra Diederik,Goodchild Helen,Villén Ana Harto,Zagorska Ilga,Edmonds Mark,Nordqvist Kerkko,Little Aimée
Abstract
AbstractDespite their ubiquity, Mesolithic lithic tools given as funerary offerings have rarely been studied in detail. Whereas personal ornaments (e.g. beads, pendants) are commonly interpreted as markers of social identity and status, archaeologists have struggled to understand the stone tools, commonly regarded as “utilitarian” items. As a result, this class of grave goods has not received the same level of attention, leaving a significant gap in our understanding of Mesolithic mortuary behaviours. Our research challenges long-lasting perceptions of lithic tools as strictly utilitarian objects and draws on studies of one of the most substantial stone axe funerary collections from one of the largest Stone Age cemeteries in Europe–Zvejnieki, Latvia. Evidence suggests the selection of unused axes as grave offerings, while unusual wear traces on an axe found in a female grave (no 57) raises questions about its use in the burial rites. Using a multi-proxy approach, we compare life histories of axes placed in burials to those recovered from contemporary, nearby settlement contexts. Finally, a strong correlation between axes and women and children at Zvejnieki challenges gendered stereotypes of stone tools, historically regarded as possessions of the adult male members of Stone Age societies.
Funder
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Reference63 articles.
1. Mannermaa, K., Rainio, R., Girya, E. Y. & Gerasimov, D. V. Let’s groove: Attachment techniques of eurasian elk (Alces alces) tooth pendants at the late Mesolithic cemetery Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov (Lake Onega, Russia). Archaeol. Anthropol. Sci. 13, 3 (2021).
2. Rigaud, S. & Gutiérrez-Zugasti, I. Symbolism among the last hunter–fisher–gatherers in northern Iberia: Personal ornaments from El Mazo and El Toral III Mesolithic shell midden sites. Quat. Int. 407, 131–144 (2016).
3. Larsson, L. A tooth for a tooth: Tooth ornaments from the graves at the cemeteries of Zvejnieki. Act. Arch. Lund. 8, 253–287 (2006).
4. Kannegaard, E. Late Mesolithic ochre graves at Nederst, Denmark: Ochre rituals and customs of personal adornment. In Mesolithic Burials: Rites, Symbols and Social Organisation of Early Postglacial Communities Vol. 1 (eds Grünberg, J. M. et al.) 81–95 (Landesmuseum für vorgeschichte, 2016).
5. Little, A. et al. Stone dead: Uncovering early Mesolithic mortuary rites, hermitage, Ireland. Camb. Archaeol. J. 27, 223–243 (2017).