The archaeology and ethnography of human-animal social relationships

Big Fish Hunting: interpretation of stone clubs from Lepenski Vir

by Ivana Zivaljevic

Published in N. Vasić (ed.) Harmony of Nature and Spirituality in Stone (Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference in Kragujevac, Serbia, March 15-16, 2012), Stone Studio Association: Belgrade: 195-206.

In this paper, I discuss a specific type of stone tool found at Lepenski Vir: clubs or mallets - which may have been... more In this paper, I discuss a specific type of stone tool found at Lepenski Vir: clubs or mallets - which may have been used in fishing as stunners. The significance of large fish species (especially beluga sturgeon) in the diet, settlement patterns and cosmogony of the inhabitants of the Mesolithic-Neolithic settlement of Lepenski Vir (c. 6200-5900. cal. BC) is amply manifested in the archaeological record, namely by significant quantities of sturgeon bones, the famous ‘fishlike’ sandstone sculptures and isotopic dietary signatures of humans buried at the site. Ironically, there is less evidence to suggest how exactly these great animals were caught. The massive and often ornamented stone clubs were initially interpreted as ‘magic’ and ‘ritual’ devices; however, it should be noted that the ‘ritual’ and ‘profane’ uses of an object need not exclude one another. The aim of this paper is to present the material and stylistic properties of these tools, look into and interpret their contextual provenience, and offer an understanding of them not as passive objects, but as powerful agents in dramatic encounters with the big fish.

Postavenie psa v spoločnosti doby halštatskej. Dog in the Early Iron Age society (summary).

by Petra Kmeťová

published in: "Medea – Studia mediaevalia et antiqua 10, Bratislava 2007"

Presented paper deals with representations of dog in figural art of East Alpine Hallstatt region, especially motives... more Presented paper deals with representations of dog in figural art of East Alpine Hallstatt region, especially motives exept hunting scenes (these were presented in another paper). Representations from the East Alpine Hallstatt region are compared to dogs representations from other contemporary centres of figural art. The representations are compared to selected dog burials from presented region and also to role of dog in mythology and ancient religions.

Notes from the Underground: Caves and People in the Mesolithic and Neolithic Karst

by Dimitrij Mlekuz

To be published in "Caves in Context:The Cultural Significance of Caves and Rockshelters in Europe", edited by Knut-Andreas Bergsvik and Robin Skeates. Oxbow books, 2012.
You can preorder it directly from Oxbow: http://www.oxbowbooks.com/bookinfo.cfm/ID/92020//Location/Oxbow

Caves are not only unique sedimentary environments with good preservation of archaeological material, but as... more Caves are not only unique sedimentary environments with good preservation of archaeological material, but as archaeological record from caves testify – also special places where distinct activities were performed. What makes caves special? What makes them different from open air locales? How do caves act back on humans? How do humans and caves mutually constitute each other and create a sense of self and belonging in the world? This chapter touches these themes using examples from the archaeological record of the Karst in northeast Italy and western Slovenia. By exploring the ‘affordances’ that caves provide we can focus on the social and contextual role they played in the practical tasks of past people. Caves are not passive backdrops for the activities that people perform, they are not natural places, and they do not satisfy the generic needs of people such as ‘shelter’. We can understand caves as material culture where dwelling occurs. And, by focusing on the process of dwelling that they enable through the affordances they provide, they help us to challenge the dichotomies of the natural and built environment, or of the mundane and the sacred.

Linking urban townscape with rural landscape: evidence of animal transhumance in the River Ivel valley, Bedfordshire

by Matt Edgeworth

Edgeworth, Matt. 2009 'Linking urban townscape with rural landscape: evidence of animal transhumance in the River Ivel valley, Bedfordshire' in Medieval Settlement Research 23 (2008), 22-27.

An exploration of connections between apparently disparate features of an archaeological landscape. Provides an... more An exploration of connections between apparently disparate features of an archaeological landscape. Provides an example of a town whose urban origins, layout and development were shaped around what seems to be a pre-existing broad droveway dating from the middle Saxon period.

Symbols by Nature: Davidson, I. 1999 Symbols by nature: animal frequencies in the Upper Palaeolithic of western Europe and the nature of symbolic representation. Archaeology in Oceania 34:121-131.

by Iain Davidson

This paper discusses evidence that the symbolic values of images changed during the Upper Palaeolithic of Spain and makes the more general point that this can occur even within a long tradition of similar conventions of iconicity.

The Composition and Interpretation of Associated Bone Groups from Wessex

by James Morris

(2010). In. D, Campana. P, Crabtree. S, deFrance. J, Lev-Tov. And A, Choyke. (eds.). Anthropological Approaches to Zooarchaeology: Colonialism, Complexity and Animal Transformations. Oxford. Oxbow. 259-269

This paper derives from work investigating the nature and interpretation of associated bone groups (ABGs), which have... more This paper derives from work investigating the nature and interpretation of associated bone groups (ABGs), which have also been referred to in the literature as “special animal deposits.” The project has involved the collection of all available published data regarding these deposits from the Wessex region, southern England. The information presented here comprises the initial results. The past and current interpretations for such deposits are discussed with differences between periods, and the influence of archaeological paradigms highlighted. The species proportion and composition of ABGs are investigated for sites dating from the Neolithic to the medieval period. The results indicate that a number of changes occur in the ABG assemblages between time periods, possibly due to social change. The transition between the late Iron Age and Romano-British period is investigated in depth. Results show that the composition of ABGs from rural settlements changed very little until the middle Romano-British period. However, urban sites display a “Romanised” pattern from the beginning of the Romano-British period. Finally, there is a discussion in the paper about whether current trend of ritual interpretations for ABGs should be continued.

Associated bone groups; beyond the Iron Age

by James Morris

(2010). In, Morris, J, and Maltby, M, (eds.). Integrating Social and Environmental Archaeologies; Reconsidering Deposition. Oxford. British Archaeological Reports International Series 2077.

As zooarchaeologists move away from the purely economic towards ‘social zooarchaeological’ interpretations, the... more As zooarchaeologists move away from the purely economic towards ‘social zooarchaeological’ interpretations, the consideration of articulated/associated faunal remains has become more common-place. This paper presents results from a research project which investigated the nature of these associated bone groups (ABGs). The majority of current work on these deposits has utilised Iron Age material, with ABGs becoming synonymous with certain Iron Age sites, particularly Danebury. This paper moves beyond the Iron Age and discusses their presence on sites from the Neolithic to the Medieval period. It utilises the results of a survey of published sources from southern England and Yorkshire and shows that ABGs are commonly recovered from other periods. Their composition is shown to differ between time periods and regions. Finally in light of the data presented it questions how we should view these deposits.

Do the Clothes Make the Horse? Relationality, Roles and Statuses In Iron Age Inner Asia

by Gala Argent

World Archaeology, 42(2), 157—174.

Despite recent calls to view nonhuman animals as more than objects within archaeological studies, traditional... more Despite recent calls to view nonhuman animals as more than objects within archaeological studies, traditional interpretations of horses in Iron Age Inner Asian communities continue to consider them as relevant only through their functional or symbolic significance to humans. This article argues for a “relational” rather than “domination” model of human-horse interactions, and that a necessary step toward this is a more clear understanding of horses, themselves, as social beings. This is brought to light through ethological studies and the understandings of “working riders,” including the author. Using a case study of the Iron Age Pazyryk human-horse burials, it is then proposed that through this lens the outfits of the horses in the Pazyryk kurgans might be seen to reflect roles and statuses of the horses, rather than of the humans.