Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP
In the Late Mesolithic graves of Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, Northwest Russia, large amounts of Eurasian elk (Alces alces) incisors have been found. These teeth, for the most part fashioned into portable pendants, seem to have formed decorative sets for the garments or accessories of the deceased. This a...
Published in: | Cambridge Archaeological Journal |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , , |
Other Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2022
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10138/341023 |
id |
ftunivhelsihelda:oai:helda.helsinki.fi:10138/341023 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftunivhelsihelda:oai:helda.helsinki.fi:10138/341023 2024-01-07T09:38:06+01:00 Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP Rainio, Riitta Gerasimov, Dmitrij V. Girya, Evgeny Mannermaa, Kristiina Department of Cultures Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) Faculty Common Matters (Faculty of Arts) 2022-02-25T13:21:04Z 22 application/pdf http://hdl.handle.net/10138/341023 eng eng Cambridge University Press 10.1017/S0959774321000275 Rainio , R , Gerasimov , D V , Girya , E & Mannermaa , K 2021 , ' Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP ' , Cambridge Archaeological Journal , vol. 31 , no. 4 , pp. 639-660 . https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959774321000275 ORCID: /0000-0003-0995-3900/work/108865765 ORCID: /0000-0002-8510-1120/work/108868630 f143b376-409f-473f-80ed-4d8a6447b6bd http://hdl.handle.net/10138/341023 000721298400008 cc_by_nc_nd openAccess info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess 615 History and Archaeology Late Mesolithic Northern Europe Burial grounds Bone technology Animal tooth beads Dental wear Macro- and micro-wear analysis Experimental archaeology 6131 Theatre dance music other performing arts Sound archaeology History of musical instruments Rattles MESOLITHIC CEMETERY OSTROV BURIAL AGE Article acceptedVersion 2022 ftunivhelsihelda 2023-12-14T00:07:16Z In the Late Mesolithic graves of Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, Northwest Russia, large amounts of Eurasian elk (Alces alces) incisors have been found. These teeth, for the most part fashioned into portable pendants, seem to have formed decorative sets for the garments or accessories of the deceased. This article examines both the technologies associated with these artefacts and their uses, as well as reflecting on the sensorial experiences generated by them. Osteological analysis of a sample of 100 specimens indicates that all types of incisors were used for making the pendants. Traceological analysis indicates that the teeth were modified by scraping, grooving, grinding, and retouching. Traces of wear consist of general wear and distinctive pits or pecks on the perimeters of the crowns. These traces indicate that the pendants were worn before their deposition in the graves, in such a way that they were in contact with both soft and solid materials. The pattern of pits or pecks has until now been unreported in the traceological literature. In experiments, a similar pattern emerged when pendants of fresh elk incisors were hung in rows and bunches and struck against one another. These strokes created a rattling sound. Thus, the elk incisors of Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov appear to provide insight into previously unattainable sonic experiences and activities of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, as well as the early history of the instrument category of rattles. Peer reviewed Article in Journal/Newspaper Alces alces Northwest Russia HELDA – University of Helsinki Open Repository Oleniy ENVELOPE(87.951,87.951,67.489,67.489) Oleniy Ostrov ENVELOPE(32.660,32.660,66.704,66.704) Cambridge Archaeological Journal 31 4 639 660 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
HELDA – University of Helsinki Open Repository |
op_collection_id |
ftunivhelsihelda |
language |
English |
topic |
615 History and Archaeology Late Mesolithic Northern Europe Burial grounds Bone technology Animal tooth beads Dental wear Macro- and micro-wear analysis Experimental archaeology 6131 Theatre dance music other performing arts Sound archaeology History of musical instruments Rattles MESOLITHIC CEMETERY OSTROV BURIAL AGE |
spellingShingle |
615 History and Archaeology Late Mesolithic Northern Europe Burial grounds Bone technology Animal tooth beads Dental wear Macro- and micro-wear analysis Experimental archaeology 6131 Theatre dance music other performing arts Sound archaeology History of musical instruments Rattles MESOLITHIC CEMETERY OSTROV BURIAL AGE Rainio, Riitta Gerasimov, Dmitrij V. Girya, Evgeny Mannermaa, Kristiina Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP |
topic_facet |
615 History and Archaeology Late Mesolithic Northern Europe Burial grounds Bone technology Animal tooth beads Dental wear Macro- and micro-wear analysis Experimental archaeology 6131 Theatre dance music other performing arts Sound archaeology History of musical instruments Rattles MESOLITHIC CEMETERY OSTROV BURIAL AGE |
description |
In the Late Mesolithic graves of Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov, Northwest Russia, large amounts of Eurasian elk (Alces alces) incisors have been found. These teeth, for the most part fashioned into portable pendants, seem to have formed decorative sets for the garments or accessories of the deceased. This article examines both the technologies associated with these artefacts and their uses, as well as reflecting on the sensorial experiences generated by them. Osteological analysis of a sample of 100 specimens indicates that all types of incisors were used for making the pendants. Traceological analysis indicates that the teeth were modified by scraping, grooving, grinding, and retouching. Traces of wear consist of general wear and distinctive pits or pecks on the perimeters of the crowns. These traces indicate that the pendants were worn before their deposition in the graves, in such a way that they were in contact with both soft and solid materials. The pattern of pits or pecks has until now been unreported in the traceological literature. In experiments, a similar pattern emerged when pendants of fresh elk incisors were hung in rows and bunches and struck against one another. These strokes created a rattling sound. Thus, the elk incisors of Yuzhniy Oleniy Ostrov appear to provide insight into previously unattainable sonic experiences and activities of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers, as well as the early history of the instrument category of rattles. Peer reviewed |
author2 |
Department of Cultures Helsinki Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS) Faculty Common Matters (Faculty of Arts) |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Rainio, Riitta Gerasimov, Dmitrij V. Girya, Evgeny Mannermaa, Kristiina |
author_facet |
Rainio, Riitta Gerasimov, Dmitrij V. Girya, Evgeny Mannermaa, Kristiina |
author_sort |
Rainio, Riitta |
title |
Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP |
title_short |
Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP |
title_full |
Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP |
title_fullStr |
Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP |
title_full_unstemmed |
Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP |
title_sort |
prehistoric pendants as instigators of sound and body movements : a traceological case study from northeast europe, c. 8200 cal. bp |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press |
publishDate |
2022 |
url |
http://hdl.handle.net/10138/341023 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(87.951,87.951,67.489,67.489) ENVELOPE(32.660,32.660,66.704,66.704) |
geographic |
Oleniy Oleniy Ostrov |
geographic_facet |
Oleniy Oleniy Ostrov |
genre |
Alces alces Northwest Russia |
genre_facet |
Alces alces Northwest Russia |
op_relation |
10.1017/S0959774321000275 Rainio , R , Gerasimov , D V , Girya , E & Mannermaa , K 2021 , ' Prehistoric Pendants as Instigators of Sound and Body Movements : A Traceological Case Study from Northeast Europe, c. 8200 cal. BP ' , Cambridge Archaeological Journal , vol. 31 , no. 4 , pp. 639-660 . https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959774321000275 ORCID: /0000-0003-0995-3900/work/108865765 ORCID: /0000-0002-8510-1120/work/108868630 f143b376-409f-473f-80ed-4d8a6447b6bd http://hdl.handle.net/10138/341023 000721298400008 |
op_rights |
cc_by_nc_nd openAccess info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
container_title |
Cambridge Archaeological Journal |
container_volume |
31 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
639 |
op_container_end_page |
660 |
_version_ |
1787429727302057984 |