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Taken to the grave. An archaeozoological approach assessing the role of animals as crematory offerings in first millennium AD Britain.
Worley, Fay L.
Worley, Fay L.
Publication Date
2010-04-01T15:43:24Z
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The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a Creative Commons Licence.
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Accepted for publication
Institution
University of Bradford
Department
Department of Archaeological Sciences
Awarded
2008
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Abstract
The crematory funerary rites practiced by those living in parts of mainland Britain
during the first millennium AD included burning complete or parts of animals on the
pyre. This thesis highlights the potential for archaeozoological analysis of faunal pyre
goods using assemblages from the first millennium AD as a dataset.
Experimental study and the integration of current research from a number of disciplines
is used to suggest that although pyrolysis and cremation practices fragment and distort
burnt bone assemblages, careful analysis can reveal a wealth of data leading to the
interpretation of various forms of pyre good.
The results of the author¿s analysis of material from the sites of Brougham, Cumbria, St.
Stephen¿s, Hertfordshire, Castleford, West Yorkshire and Heath Wood, Derbyshire are
combined with data from other published cemeteries to suggest a series of chronological
and regional continuities in the use of animals but with a distinct change at the start of
the Early Medieval period. The results from Brougham are particularly significant as
they alter preconceived views on the utilisation of animals in Romano-British funerary
practice. Cremation burials in first millennium AD Britain are shown to include the
burnt remains of predominantly domestic taxa with occasional wild species. The pyre
goods are interpreted as representing food offerings, companions, amulets, gaming
items and sacrifices.
This thesis demonstrates that cremated animal bone should not be disregarded but rather
valued as source of archaeozoological data, and a significant functional tool for
interpreting past funerary behaviour and animal utilisation.
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Type
Thesis
Qualification name
PhD