Mesolithic skull cults?

Book section

While long known as a feature of the Near Eastern Neolithic, there is growing evidence for the special treatment of the human head in Mesolithic Europe. This takes the form of secondary deposition of crania and mandibles, often in unusual contexts, including as ‘grave goods’ with other burials; cutmarks suggesting decapitation, scalping and defleshing; and the deposition of fleshed heads in pits, as well as, most recently, on stakes in shallow pools. After reviewing this evidence, discussion turns to its interpretation. Possible links with the ‘ancestors’ are explored, and ethnographic support for their importance among hunter-gatherers is reviewed. If accepted, there may be implications for the expression of territoriality in the Mesolithic. The blurring of the lines between revered ancestor and enemy when interpreting the treatment of human heads is emphasised.

Authors: Schulting, R

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Uppsala Universiteit
• Host title: Ancient Death Ways: Proceedings of the workshop on archaeology and mortuary practices. Uppsala, 16–17 May 2013
• Pages: 19-46
• Chapter number: 2
• Series: Occasional Papers in Archaeology
• Series number: 59
• Place of publication: Uppsala
• Publication date: 2015-04-22
• Edition: 1
• ISSN: 1100-6358
• ISBN: 9789150624465
• Language: English
• Keywords: Near East; Palaeolithic; ‘skull cups’; Ofnet; violence; ancestors