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

0485329 - ARÚ 2019 RIV AT eng J - Článek v odborném periodiku
Kyselý, René
Meat offerings in graves of the Hallstatt Period in Bohemia (Czech Republic): An archaeozoological comparison.
Annalen des naturhistorischen Museums in Wien. A. Roč. 120, 15 Jan (2018), s. 245-280. ISSN 0255-0091
Grant ostatní: Rada Programu interní podpory projektů mezinárodní spolupráce AV ČR(CZ) M300021201
Program: M
Institucionální podpora: RVO:67985912
Klíčová slova: Early Iron Age * Bylany culture * Celts * food offering * funeral banquet * pig - boar (Sus) * cattle (Bos) * sheep/goat (Ovis/Capra)
Obor OECD: Archaeology

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.
Trvalý link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0280396