Stone axes throw new light on Baltic stone age mortuary rites.

Autor: Petrović A; Department of Archaeology, Faculty of Philosophy, University of Belgrade, Čika Ljubina 18-20, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia., Macāne A; Department of Cultures, University of Helsinki, Unioninkatu 38F, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.; Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia, Kalpaka bulvāris 4, Riga, 1050, Latvia., Strautnieks I; Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia, Jelgavas iela 1, Riga, 1004, Latvia., Kalniņa L; Faculty of Geography and Earth Sciences, University of Latvia, Jelgavas iela 1, Riga, 1004, Latvia., Holmqvist E; Department of Cultures, University of Helsinki, Unioninkatu 38F, 00014, Helsinki, Finland., Hunter EM; Centre for Anatomical and Human Sciences, Hull York Medical School, Heslington, York, YO10 5DD, UK., Pomstra D; Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 2, 2333 CC, Leiden, The Netherlands., Goodchild H; Department of Archaeology, University of York, King's Manor, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EP, UK., Villén AH; Independent Researcher, Madrid, Spain., Zagorska I; Institute of Latvian History, University of Latvia, Kalpaka bulvāris 4, Riga, 1050, Latvia., Edmonds M; Department of Archaeology, University of York, King's Manor, Exhibition Square, York, YO1 7EP, UK., Nordqvist K; Helsinki Collegium for Advanced Studies, University of Helsinki, Fabianinkatu 24, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. kerkko.nordqvist@helsinki.fi., Little A; Department of Archaeology, Centre for Artefacts and Materials Analysis, University of York, PalaeoHub, Wentworth Way, York, YO10 5DD, UK. aimee.little@york.ac.uk.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2024 Jul 13; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 16219. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Jul 13.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66854-9
Abstrakt: Despite 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.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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