Ravens and crows in Iron Age and Roman Britain
Serjeantson, D. and Morris, J. (2011) Ravens and crows in Iron Age and Roman Britain. Oxford Journal of Archaeology, 30, (1), 85-107. (doi:10.1111/j.1468-0092.2010.00360.x).
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Description/Abstract
The raven and crow skeletons from Danebury are re-examined, taking into account their taphonomy, their context and the associated finds. Raven and crow burials from other Iron Age and Roman sites are surveyed, again with a discussion of their context and associated finds where these could be ascertained. Taken together, the evidence makes it clear that most if not all were deliberate burials, often at the base of pits. We demonstrate how interpretations of such burials have changed, with zooarchaeologists initially proposing functional explanations and archaeologists readier to accept that the burials were deliberate. We go on to argue that the unique character of ravens and crows, including their tolerance of humans, their scavenging habits, and their voice, led to their playing an important role in Iron Age and Roman rites and beliefs.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| ISSNs: | 0262-5253 (print) 1468-0092 (electronic) |
| Keywords: | raven, crow, iron age, roman britain, pit deposits |
| Subjects: | C Auxiliary Sciences of History > CC Archaeology Q Science > QL Zoology |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Humanities > Archaeology |
| Item ID: | 342286 |
| Date Deposited: | 20 Aug 2012 13:45 |
| Last Modified: | 26 Apr 2013 06:53 |
| Contributors: | Serjeantson, D. (Author) Morris, J. (Author) |
| Date: | February 2011 |
| Status: | Published |
| URI: | http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/342286 |
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