nerc.ac.uk

Multi-isotope analysis reveals that feasts in the Stonehenge environs and across Wessex drew people and animals from throughout Britain

Madgwick, R.; Lamb, A.L.; Sloane, H.; Nederbragt, A.J.; Albarella, U.; Pearson, M. Parker; Evans, J.A.. 2019 Multi-isotope analysis reveals that feasts in the Stonehenge environs and across Wessex drew people and animals from throughout Britain. Science Advances, 5 (3), eaau6078. 10.1126/sciadv.aau6078

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.
[thumbnail of Open Access Paper]
Preview
Text (Open Access Paper)
eaau6078.full.pd.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.

Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

The great henge complexes of southern Britain are iconic monuments of the third millennium BCE, representing great feats of engineering and labor mobilization that hosted feasting events on a previously unparalleled scale. The scale of movement and the catchments that the complexes served, however, have thus far eluded understanding. Presenting the largest five-isotope system archeological dataset (87Sr/86Sr, 34S, 18O, 13C, and 15N) yet fully published, we analyze 131 pigs, the prime feasting animals, from four Late Neolithic (approximately 2800 to 2400 BCE) complexes to explore the networks that the feasts served. Because archeological evidence excludes continental contact, sources are considered only in the context of the British Isles. This analysis reveals wide-ranging origins across Britain, with few pigs raised locally. This finding demonstrates great investment of effort in transporting pigs raised elsewhere over vast distances to supply feasts and evidences the very first phase of pan-British connectivity.

Item Type: Publication - Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 10.1126/sciadv.aau6078
ISSN: 2375-2548
Date made live: 14 Mar 2019 13:54 +0 (UTC)
URI: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/522507

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

Document Downloads

Downloads for past 30 days

Downloads per month over past year

More statistics for this item...