Robson, Harry Kenneth orcid.org/0000-0002-4850-692X, Saul, Hayley Anne orcid.org/0000-0001-9764-7115, Steele, Valerie J. et al. (5 more authors) (2021) Organic Residue Analysis of Early Neolithic ‘Bog Pots’ from Denmark Demonstrates the Processing of Wild and Domestic Foodstuffs. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. 102829. ISSN 2352-409X
Abstract
Ceramic containers, intentionally deposited into wetlands, offer detailed insights into Early Neolithic culinary practices. Additionally, they are key for ascertaining the Neolithisation process in Denmark since they appear to form a typo-chronological sequence. Here, we use a combination of organic residue analysis (ORA) of pottery alongside Bayesian chronological modelling of the radiocarbon dates obtained on these vessels to explore the initial stages of votive deposition in wetlands, a practice that stretches from the Mesolithic to the onset of Christianity in Northern Europe. We consider 34 Early-Middle Neolithic (c. 3900–2350 cal BC) ‘bog pots’ from Denmark, of which 20 have ORA data, and 26 have been dated directly. Carbonised surface residues and absorbed lipids from powdered sherds were analysed using a combination of bulk carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and GC-combustion-isotope ratio MS (GC-CIRMS). The molecular and isotopic compositions of the analysed samples revealed the presence of aquatic, ruminant carcass and dairy fats as well as plant waxes with the majority containing mixtures thereof. Dairy fats were present from the onset of the Funnel Beaker culture, whilst aquatic foods, prevalent at the close of the preceding Mesolithic period, continued to be processed in pottery for the following thousand years.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher’s self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Arts and Humanities (York) > Archaeology (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 16 Feb 2021 16:10 |
Last Modified: | 07 Mar 2025 00:07 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102829 |
Status: | Published |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jasrep.2021.102829 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:171259 |