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Orkney skeleton reveals ritualistic side to Iron Age
Orkney skeleton reveals ritualistic side to Iron Age
A HUMAN skeleton from the Iron Age with white teeth and wearing ornate green copper toe rings has been unearthed almost completely intact by archaeologists on Orkney, in what is seen as a discovery of international importance.
For 1,500 years the remains of what is believed to be someone in their late teens or early 20s has lain undisturbed half a metre below the topsoil of a farmer’s field at Mine Howe, Tankerness, on the island.
What has baffled archaeologists is that the body appears to have been ritualistically buried with a set of antlers resting on its chest and a toe ring on each foot, beneath the floor of what would have been in from AD200 to AD600 a busy Iron Age workshop.
The business of smelting and moulding metal and glass into jewellery, sword handles and other intricate objects would have gone on as normal just a few feet above the shallow grave, experts believe.
Yesterday Nick Card, from the Orkney Archeological Trust and a co-director of the dig at Mine Howe, which is now in its fourth season, said the discovery was immensely important in terms of advancing understanding of European Iron Age society. The fact that the skeleton is complete is also extremely rare for this period of history.
“Until relatively recently Iron Age society was seen a very secular in nature,” said Mr Card. “But we have now started to recognise ritualistic elements in certain structures and this site is quite unique in Britain in that respect. It is immensely exciting.”
It is not yet known if the 5 ft tall skeleton, whose sex is still to be established, died of natural causes or was the victim of a pagan sacrifice to placate the spirit world. Early in the first millennium, metal workers had a special status. Their work was viewed as dangerous and magical and experts believe this could be the key to the placing of the body. Jane Downes, an archaeologist and another co-director of the dig, said: “Fragments of human beings have sometimes been found within Iron Age houses, but this is a formal burial of an entire body dressed with jewellery within what would have been a busy workshop. The grave was cut through the floor and paved over with flag stones, so the people would have been well aware that the body was there while they were working.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1214016,00.html
Orkney skeleton reveals ritualistic side to Iron Age
A HUMAN skeleton from the Iron Age with white teeth and wearing ornate green copper toe rings has been unearthed almost completely intact by archaeologists on Orkney, in what is seen as a discovery of international importance.
For 1,500 years the remains of what is believed to be someone in their late teens or early 20s has lain undisturbed half a metre below the topsoil of a farmer’s field at Mine Howe, Tankerness, on the island.
What has baffled archaeologists is that the body appears to have been ritualistically buried with a set of antlers resting on its chest and a toe ring on each foot, beneath the floor of what would have been in from AD200 to AD600 a busy Iron Age workshop.
The business of smelting and moulding metal and glass into jewellery, sword handles and other intricate objects would have gone on as normal just a few feet above the shallow grave, experts believe.
Yesterday Nick Card, from the Orkney Archeological Trust and a co-director of the dig at Mine Howe, which is now in its fourth season, said the discovery was immensely important in terms of advancing understanding of European Iron Age society. The fact that the skeleton is complete is also extremely rare for this period of history.
“Until relatively recently Iron Age society was seen a very secular in nature,” said Mr Card. “But we have now started to recognise ritualistic elements in certain structures and this site is quite unique in Britain in that respect. It is immensely exciting.”
It is not yet known if the 5 ft tall skeleton, whose sex is still to be established, died of natural causes or was the victim of a pagan sacrifice to placate the spirit world. Early in the first millennium, metal workers had a special status. Their work was viewed as dangerous and magical and experts believe this could be the key to the placing of the body. Jane Downes, an archaeologist and another co-director of the dig, said: “Fragments of human beings have sometimes been found within Iron Age houses, but this is a formal burial of an entire body dressed with jewellery within what would have been a busy workshop. The grave was cut through the floor and paved over with flag stones, so the people would have been well aware that the body was there while they were working.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1214016,00.html