Birds in Neolithic and Birds in Neolithic and Mesolithic graves in Mesolithic graves in

Northern EuropeNorthern Europe

Kristiina MannermaaKristiina Mannermaa

Institute of Cultural Research, Department of Institute of Cultural Research, Department of Archaeology, PO Box 59, 00014 University of Helsinki. Archaeology, PO Box 59, 00014 University of Helsinki.

kristiina.mannermaa@helsinki.fikristiina.mannermaa@helsinki.fi

ICAZ Paris 23rd-28th April 2010. The animal in funerary space

Many roles of birds in gravesMany roles of birds in graves

Decoration of the grave, garments, clothes Decoration of the grave, garments, clothes etc.etc.

bones fashioned to beads and pendantsbones fashioned to beads and pendants

feathersfeathers

symbolic aspectssymbolic aspects

In ritual and ideologyIn ritual and ideologypower animals, help spiritspower animals, help spirits

totem animalstotem animals

color symbolismcolor symbolism

carriers, soul birdscarriers, soul birds

SitesSites

Zvejnieki, Northern LatviaZvejnieki, Northern Latvia

Multiperiodical site (ca. Multiperiodical site (ca. 7000-3000 cal BC)7000-3000 cal BC)

Island on Ancient lake Island on Ancient lake BurtnieksBurtnieks

320 graves excavated in 320 graves excavated in 1960, 2006, 20071960, 2006, 2007

Rich burialsRich burials

Well preservedWell preserved

Ajvide, Gotland, SwedenAjvide, Gotland, Sweden

Graves ca. 2900-Graves ca. 2900-2300 cal BC (Middle 2300 cal BC (Middle Neolithic)Neolithic)

81 graves 81 graves excavated in 1986-excavated in 1986-20092009

Richl gravesRichl graves

Well preservedWell preserved

Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, NW Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, NW RussiaRussia

Mesolithic, ca. 7000-Mesolithic, ca. 7000-6200 cal BC6200 cal BC

Island on lake OnegaIsland on lake Onega

excavated in 1936, excavated in 1936, 19381938

Rich burialsRich burials

Well preservedWell preserved

Gurina 1956

Does the animal bone really Does the animal bone really belong to the burial or relating belong to the burial or relating

actions?actions?

ContextsContexts

Taphonomic history of the siteTaphonomic history of the site

C14 datesC14 dates

Zvejnieki, grave 164Zvejnieki, grave 164

Adult male: Adult male: 5230±95 BP5230±95 BP

Diver (Diver (GaviaGavia sp.) bone sp.) bone 5770±555770±55 BP BP

Mannermaa et al. 2007

Zvejnieki: grave 165Zvejnieki: grave 165

Adult male: 5480±100 BPAdult male: 5480±100 BP

Jay bone: 5250±55Jay bone: 5250±55 BP BP

Anatidae:Anatidae: 10 690±8010 690±80 BP BP !!!!!!

Mannermaa et al. 2007

Atmospheric data from Reimer et al (2004);OxCal v3.10 Bronk Ramsey (2005); cub r:5 sd:12 prob usp[chron]

5500CalBC 5000CalBC 4500CalBC 4000CalBC 3500CalBC

Calibrated date

Människa 5480±100BP

Nötskrika 5250±80BP

DecorationDecoration

Beads and pendantsBeads and pendantsWing bones of waterbirds Wing bones of waterbirds (mainly ducks)(mainly ducks)

Examples:Examples:

Photo H. Birznieks

Photo K. Mannermaa

Zvejnieki: CZvejnieki: Child hild grave grave 190190

111 bird humerus pendants (1 bird humerus pendants (e.g., e.g., Mallard, GoosanderMallard, Goosander, , Red-breastedRed-breasted mmergansererganser and and iindet. ducks)ndet. ducks)

Zagorskis 1987

Photo H. Birznieks

Ajvide: Beads in a double child grave 52

Photo Göran Burenhult

Beads and Dentalium-shells in double burial at Ire, Gotland

Beads in the head region in grave 4 at Ire, Gotland

G. Janzon: Gotlands stenåldersgravar 1974

Jakutian shaman(Early twentieth century)Pentikäinen et al. 1998. Samaanit

Uses of bead and pendants

Nihlen, J. 1927.Gotlands stenåldersboplatser

Zagorskis, F. 1961.Kreicu neolita kapulauks.Arheologia un etnografija 3.

Meanings of decoration:Meanings of decoration:

AestheticAesthetic-feathers-feathers-pairs-pairs

Symbolic aspects:Symbolic aspects:–dual symbolism?dual symbolism?–use of certain species and use of certain species and

anatomical elementsanatomical elementsVoice from hanging pendantsVoice from hanging pendantsothers?others?

Photos K. Mannermaa

Ajvide: female grave 62

What are these?

Musical instruments? Wind Musical instruments? Wind chimes?chimes?

Photos K. Mannermaa

Ajvide: Grave 2

geo.atspace.com/assets/images/visuals/Double

Cut bird tarsometatarsi --What are they?

Photo G. Burenhult

Cormorant

Ajvide: Female grave 62

Cut crane tarsometatarsi

Photos K. Mannermaa

Bird parts as agents ofBird parts as agents ofbeliefs and ideologybeliefs and ideology

Power animals, help spirits (cf. the Saami)Power animals, help spirits (cf. the Saami)

Carriers (soul birds)Carriers (soul birds)

colour symbolismcolour symbolism

parts of totem animalsparts of totem animals

Examples:Examples:

Zvejnieki: Grave 164Zvejnieki: Grave 164

Adult male: 5230±95 BPAdult male: 5230±95 BPOver 40 wing bones (cmc) of the Over 40 wing bones (cmc) of the Jay (Jay (Garrulus glandarius) Garrulus glandarius) all all over the bodyover the body

Mannermaa et al. 2007

Near the right arm

On the chest

Photos H. Birznieks

other grave goods, e.g.:other grave goods, e.g.:

-Near the ear jewellery made -Near the ear jewellery made of 11 mammal teeth (wild of 11 mammal teeth (wild boar, elk, aurochs, dog and boar, elk, aurochs, dog and otter)otter)

-16 spearheads-16 spearheads

Blue wings of the jayBlue wings of the jay– colour symbolism?colour symbolism?

Clan of the jay? -- analogy with Clan of the jay? -- analogy with historical Siberian tribes?historical Siberian tribes?

Jay carpometacarpi were found Jay carpometacarpi were found in three additional burialsin three additional burials photo H. Hautala

Adult maleAdult male

Two ulnae and Two ulnae and one radius in the one radius in the find concentrationfind concentration

Representing a Representing a power animal?power animal?

Ajvide:Red-throated diver bones in grave 7

Photo G. Burenhult

Photos K. Mannermaa

Metacarpi/-tarsi of the Arctic hare (Metacarpi/-tarsi of the Arctic hare (Lepus Lepus timidustimidus))Seal tooth pendantsSeal tooth pendantsPig/wild boar (Pig/wild boar (Sus scrofa)Sus scrofa) tusk pendant tusk pendantBone pointsBone pointsFlint artifactsFlint artifactsStone axeStone axe

Other finds in collection:Other finds in collection:

Zvejnieki: Young male in grave 153

(Early NeolithicEarly Neolithic 5745±65 BP))

Aythya sp. MallardAnas platyrhynchos

Zagorskis 1987

Photos H. Birznieks

Other finds in the grave:Other finds in the grave:

Head dress made of animal tooth Head dress made of animal tooth pendantspendants

animal tooth pendants all over the bodyanimal tooth pendants all over the body

wild boar tuskwild boar tusk

bone pointbone point

red-ochrered-ochre

Grave VII in Tamula, southern Grave VII in Tamula, southern Estonia Estonia (5760±45 BP)

- About 7-year old child- Ulnae of the crane (Grus grus) at both hands

Jaanits et al. 1982

Symbolic and decorative beads and Symbolic and decorative beads and pendantspendants

Use of wings or parts of wingsUse of wings or parts of wings

water birds were important in ritual and water birds were important in ritual and ideological practicesideological practices

No birds of prey (some exceptions…)No birds of prey (some exceptions…)

Common aspects on birds in cemeteries:

Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov…Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov…White-tailed sea eagle White-tailed sea eagle ((Haliaeetus albicillaHaliaeetus albicilla))

Osprey (Osprey (Pandion Pandion haliaetushaliaetus))

Leg elements commonLeg elements common

Interpretations can Interpretations can hardly be made due to hardly be made due to lost contextual datalost contextual data

Only unworked bird Only unworked bird bones have been bones have been studied so farstudied so far

Neolithic rock carving in Kanozero, NW Russia

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!