Ritual bones or common waste : a study of early medieval bone deposits in Northern Europe / J. Thilderkvist.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Thilderkvist, J. (Johan Gustaf Mattias), 1977- author.

Series:

Groningen archaeological studies ; Volume 24.

Groningen archaeological studies ; Volume 24

Language:

Dutch

English

Subjects (All):

Human remains (Archaeology)--Netherlands.

Human remains (Archaeology).

Human remains (Archaeology)--Sweden.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (vi, 180 pages) : illustrations, maps.

Place of Publication:

Eelde, [Netherlands] ; Groningen, [Netherlands] : Barkhuis : University of Groningen Library, [2013]

Language Note:

Text in English, summaries in English and Dutch.

Summary:

This book addresses the problems of identifying human actions behind finds of bones in settlement archaeology, exemplified with the identification of ritual deposits. In order to formulate a methodological framework for approaching the identification of ritual deposits, different methods are tested on four Early Medieval case studysites: Dongjum and Leeuwarden, two artificial dwelling mounds situated in the then undiked salt marches of the Northern Netherlands, Midlaren, an inland settlement in Drenthe, also in the Northern Netherlands, and finally Uppåkra, a central place in the South of Sweden. The bone fragments from the four materials are studied in a five step process of definition, description, identification, interpretation and explanation. The deposits are discussed with the help of various archaeological, ethnographic and historical sources. The results of the analysis lead to a methodological framework for understanding individual deposits based on a holistic perspective where all information is regarded as potentially valuable, various methods are taken into consideration, and simplification is avoided.

Notes:

University publication.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 151-163).

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

9789492444455

9492444453

OCLC:

1030369637