Projekteja vuodessa
Abstrakti
In the Late Mesolithic graves of Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, Northwest Russia, large amounts of Eurasian elk (Alces alces) incisors have been found. These teeth, for the most part fashioned into portable pendants, seem to have formed decorative sets for the garments or accessories of the deceased. This article examines both the technologies associated with these artefacts and their uses, as well as reflecting on the sensorial experiences generated by them. Osteological analysis of a sample of 100 specimens indicates that all types of incisors were used for making the pendants. Traceological analysis indicates that the teeth were modified by scraping, grooving, grinding, and retouching. Traces of wear consist of general wear and distinctive pits or pecks on the perimeters of the crowns. These traces indicate that the pendants were worn before their deposition in the graves, in such a way that they were in contact with both soft and solid materials. The pattern of pits or pecks has until now been unreported in the traceological literature. In experiments, a similar pattern emerged when pendants of fresh elk incisors were hung in rows and bunches and struck against one another. These strokes created a rattling sound. Thus, the elk incisors of Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov appear to provide insight into previously unattainable sonic experiences and activities of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, as well as the early history of the instrument category of rattles.
Alkuperäiskieli | englanti |
---|---|
Lehti | Cambridge Archaeological Journal |
Vuosikerta | 31 |
Numero | 4 |
Sivut | 639-660 |
Sivumäärä | 22 |
ISSN | 0959-7743 |
DOI - pysyväislinkit | |
Tila | Julkaistu - marrask. 2021 |
OKM-julkaisutyyppi | A1 Alkuperäisartikkeli tieteellisessä aikakauslehdessä, vertaisarvioitu |
Lisätietoja
Supplementary audiovisual material:https://youtu.be/K-EE9YY6pHY
https://youtu.be/gRpxQOx9ugs
Tieteenalat
- 615 Historia ja arkeologia
- 6131 Teatteri, tanssi, musiikki, muut esittävät taiteet
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AMI: Animals Make Identities. The Social Bioarchaeology of Late Mesolithic and Early Neolithic Cemeteries in North-East Europe
Mannermaa, K., Kirkinen, T., Macane, A., Roiha, J., Eckelmann, R. I. I., Batanina, O., Gerasimov, D., Moiseyev, V., Malyutina, A., Giria, E., Little, A., Arppe, L., Schulting, R., Murphy, E., Hardy, K., Butrimas, A., Irzenas, M., Torv, M., Larsson, L., Treuillot, J. & Heyd, V.
01/04/2020 → 31/03/2025
Projekti: Tutkimusprojekti
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Bioarchaeological methods in the research of worldviews and human-animal relationships– pilot study of the finds from the Late Mesolithic Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov
01/09/2016 → 31/03/2020
Projekti: Tutkimusprojekti
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Tracing prehistoric rattle and dance: animal tooth pendants in Mesolithic and Neolithic burials in Northeastern Europe
01/09/2016 → 31/12/2017
Projekti: Tutkimusprojekti