Article2004

Analysis and interpretation of flint toolmarks found on bones from West Tump long barrow, Gloucestershire

32 citations0/0 files storedInternational Journal of Osteoarchaeology

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Archaeological and Geological Studies Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies Forensic Anthropology and Bioarchaeology Studies

Abstract

Abstract West Tump is a Neolithic chambered tomb originally excavated in 1880. The mound was found to contain a mixed skeletal assemblage, the majority of which was disarticulated. Between 2000 and 2001 material from the site including human bone was re‐examined with a portion of this project focused on taphonomic evidence observed on the human skeletal material. Amongst the factors selected for investigation were deliberate toolmarks. Three specimens were identified as exhibiting toolmarks. Analysis demonstrated that the observed features were cutmarks, consistent with the use of flint tools. However those on two of the specimens were found to be both post‐mortem and recent. The cutmarks observed on the remaining specimen, a right clavicle, were identified as having been inflicted during the peri‐mortem period and consistent with decapitation. British Neolithic mortuary practice has been the subject of ongoing debate since the earliest excavations of relevant sites, but until very recently few assemblages from such contexts have been re‐examined and much of the data in use has derived from sources of considerable age and questionable reliability. The selective removal of specific skeletal elements (particularly skulls) has repeatedly been described in the literature regarding the collective funerary monuments of this period. It has often been assumed that such practices took place after the soft tissues had decayed. One of the examples discussed, suggests this may not always have been the case and the potential significance of this finding is discussed in addition to a possible interpretation of the cutmarks seen on the remaining specimens. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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References

1981Bones: Ancient Men and Modern Myths 1996Blind Tests of Inter-analyst Correspondence and Accuracy in the Identification of Cut Marks, Percussion Marks, and Carnivore Tooth Marks on Bone Surfaces 1992Prehistoric Cannibalism at Mancos 5MTUMR-2346 1982Ideology, symbolic power and ritual communication: a reinterpretation of Neolithic mortuary practices 1999The Origins of Metallurgy: Distinguishing Stone from Metal Cut-marks on Bones from Archaeological Sites 1988Scanning Electron Microscopy in Archaeology 1995Bodies of Evidence: Reconstructing History Through Skeletal Analysis 1983Evidence of butchery and hominid activities at Torralba and Ambrona; an evaluation using microscopic techniques

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