Meat offerings in graves of the Hallstatt Period in Bohemia (Czech Republic): An archaeozoological comparison

Kód výsledku v IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F67985912%3A_____%2F18%3A00485329" target="_blank" >RIV/67985912:_____/18:00485329 - isvavai.cz</a>

Výsledek na webu

—

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

—

Jazyk výsledku

angličtina

Název v původním jazyce

Meat offerings in graves of the Hallstatt Period in Bohemia (Czech Republic): An archaeozoological comparison

Popis výsledku v původním jazyce

The paper provides a preliminary review of the current state of knowledge concerning meat offerings in the Hallstatt funeral rite in Bohemia (c. 800-450 BC). Uncharred animal bones, representing meat offerings, from three burials from the Bylany and Hallstatt Tumulus cultures found in two recently excavated sites were analysed archaeozoologically and in great detail. Information from earlier excavations in Bohemia was taken into account and some of the finds were revised. The paper presents a comparison of these finds from the perspective of taxonomy, anatomy, the age of the animals slaughtered and taphonomy. Contrary to former opinions, not only pigs but also sheep and cattle were offered. Despite some variation being observed, the comparison reveals similarities between meat offerings from both mentioned local cultures of the Hallstatt period. In all three recently excavated burials, a calf is the dominant object with respect to the number of bone finds (and offered meat). Adult and sub-adult sheep were also present in all three cases and an adult pig was present in at least one case. These multiple-species offerings are rare in Bohemia, and likely to reflect the special status of the deceased. Young age of cattle also appear to be the rule. Another regular feature is the offering of fleshy parts of the legs and rib segments, while other fleshy and non-fleshy parts of the body were not offered. Various observations (articulation, butchery marks, phosphate analysis) suggest that the bones found in the graves had originally borne substantial portions of meat. The absence of the head and certain fleshy parts of the body - specifically the spine region - is a common observation in the Bylany culture, the missing parts were most probably used for the funeral banquet. A comparison with neighbouring regions and an estimation of the body size of the offered animals is also presented.

Název v anglickém jazyce

Meat offerings in graves of the Hallstatt Period in Bohemia (Czech Republic): An archaeozoological comparison

Popis výsledku anglicky

The paper provides a preliminary review of the current state of knowledge concerning meat offerings in the Hallstatt funeral rite in Bohemia (c. 800-450 BC). Uncharred animal bones, representing meat offerings, from three burials from the Bylany and Hallstatt Tumulus cultures found in two recently excavated sites were analysed archaeozoologically and in great detail. Information from earlier excavations in Bohemia was taken into account and some of the finds were revised. The paper presents a comparison of these finds from the perspective of taxonomy, anatomy, the age of the animals slaughtered and taphonomy. Contrary to former opinions, not only pigs but also sheep and cattle were offered. Despite some variation being observed, the comparison reveals similarities between meat offerings from both mentioned local cultures of the Hallstatt period. In all three recently excavated burials, a calf is the dominant object with respect to the number of bone finds (and offered meat). Adult and sub-adult sheep were also present in all three cases and an adult pig was present in at least one case. These multiple-species offerings are rare in Bohemia, and likely to reflect the special status of the deceased. Young age of cattle also appear to be the rule. Another regular feature is the offering of fleshy parts of the legs and rib segments, while other fleshy and non-fleshy parts of the body were not offered. Various observations (articulation, butchery marks, phosphate analysis) suggest that the bones found in the graves had originally borne substantial portions of meat. The absence of the head and certain fleshy parts of the body - specifically the spine region - is a common observation in the Bylany culture, the missing parts were most probably used for the funeral banquet. A comparison with neighbouring regions and an estimation of the body size of the offered animals is also presented.

Druh

J_ost - Ostatní články v recenzovaných periodicích

CEP obor

—

OECD FORD obor

60102 - Archaeology

Projekt

—

Návaznosti

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Rok uplatnění

2018

Kód důvěrnosti údajů

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Název periodika

Annalen des naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. A

ISSN

0255-0091

e-ISSN

—

Svazek periodika

120

Číslo periodika v rámci svazku

15 Jan

Stát vydavatele periodika

AT - Rakouská republika

Počet stran výsledku

36

Strana od-do

245-280

Kód UT WoS článku

—

EID výsledku v databázi Scopus

—