Smith, M. J. and Bickley, M. (2004). Analysis and interpretation of flint toolmarks found on bones from West Tump long barrow, Gloucestershire. Internat J Osteoarchaeol 14 (1). Vol 14(1), pp. 18-33.
 Title The title of the publication or report |
Analysis and interpretation of flint toolmarks found on bones from West Tump long barrow, Gloucestershire | ||||||||||
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Issue The name of the volume or issue |
Internat J Osteoarchaeol 14 (1) | ||||||||||
Series The series the publication or report is included in |
International Journal of Osteoarchaeology | ||||||||||
Volume Volume number and part |
14 (1) | ||||||||||
Page Start/End The start and end page numbers. |
18 - 33 | ||||||||||
Biblio Note This is a Bibliographic record only. |
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Publication Type The type of publication - report, monograph, journal article or chapter from a book |
Journal | ||||||||||
Abstract The abstract describing the content of the publication or report |
The Neolithic chambered tomb of West Tump, originally excavated in 1880, 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. | ||||||||||
Year of Publication The year the book, article or report was published |
2004 | ||||||||||
Locations Any locations covered by the publication or report. This is not the place the book or report was published. |
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Source Where the record has come from or which dataset it was orginally included in. |
BIAB
(The British & Irish Archaeological Bibliography (BIAB))
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Relations Other resources which are relevant to this publication or report |
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Created Date The date the record of the pubication was first entered |
04 May 2007 |
