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The Jettböle middle Neolithic site on the Åland Islands – human remains, ancient DNA and pottery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 January 2017

Anders Götherström ,
Niklas Stenbäck  and
Jan Storå
Anders Götherström*
Affiliation:
Stockholm University, Sweden
Niklas Stenbäck
Affiliation:
Stockholm University, Sweden
Jan Storå
Affiliation:
Stockholm University, Sweden
*
[e-mail: Anders.Gotherstrom@arklab.su.se]
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Abstract

The article focuses on problems in making generalizations about the character of Stone Age sites and the difficulties of separating sacred and secular remains. Like many other Pitted Ware sites, the middle Neolithic site of Jettböle on the Åland Islands has been characterized as a settlement site despite finds of a ritual character. This study investigates the spatial relationships and depositional patterns of different find categories, with a special focus on human remains, including DNA analysis and the ornamentation of pottery from one of the larger excavation units from the site. The character and meaning of the site seem to be more complex than previously considered. The results of the study stress the need for careful investigation of the contextual circumstances of finds before making general interpretations.

Cet article met en évidence d'un côté les problemes survenant lorsqu'on veut généraliser le caractère des sites néolithiques et d'autre part la difficulté de faire un distinction entre les restes sacrés et les restes profanes. Comme beaucoup d'autres sites de la culture de la céramique à dépressions, le site du néolithique moyen de Jettböle sur les îles de Aland a été classifié comme habitation malgré les trouvailles de caractère rituel.

Les différentes trouvailles ont été examinées en fonction de leur relation spatiale et de la manière dont elles ont été déposées en se concentrant notamment sur les restes humains (analyses du DNA) et sur le décor de la poterie originaire d'une des plus grandes sections de fouille du site. Il semble que le caractère de même que la signification du site sont plus complexes qu'on ne l'avait pensé auparavant. Les résultats de cette étude soulignent le besoin d'examiner attentivement les circonstances contextuelles des trouvailles avant de se lancer dans des interprétations générales.

Zusammenfassung

Zusammenfassung

Die vorliegende Untersuchung widmet sich der Problematik der Verallgemeinerungen zu Merkmalen steinzeitlichen Siedlungen und den Schwierigkeiten, rituelle und profane Funde und Befunde voneinander zu trennen.

Wie viele andere Fundplätze der Grübchenkeramik hat auch der mittelneolithische Fundplatz von Jettböle auf den Åland-Inseln Funde rituellen Charakters erbracht. Die Studie untersucht unter besonderer Berücksichtigung menschlicher Überreste, DNA und der Keramikverzierungen, die aus einem größeren Ausgrabungskomplex stammen, die räumlichen Verbindungen und Deponierungsmuster verschiedener Fundkategorien. Charakter und Bedeutung des Fundplatzes erwiesen sich dabei komplexer, als vorher angenommen. Die Ergebnisse der Studie betonen die besondere Notwendigkeit einer sorgfältigen Untersuchung des Fundkontext, die vor generellen Interpretationen erfolgen sollte.

Keywords

Åland Islandsancient DNADYS393intra-site analysismiddle Neolithicmolecular sex determinationmortuary practicesPitted Ware Culturepottery decorationY chromosomal STRDNA ancienneDYS393analyse sur le sitenéolithique moyendétermination moléculaire du sexerites funérairesculture de la céramique à dépressionsdécor de la poterieSTR du chromosome Yîles de AlandÅland-InselnBestattungspraktikenDNADYS393fundplatzinterne AnalyseGefäβornamentierungGrübchenkeramikMittelneolithikummolekulare GeschlechtsbestimmungY-chromosomale STR
Type
Articles
Information
European Journal of Archaeology , Volume 5 , Issue 1 , 2002 , pp. 42 - 69
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 Sage Publications 

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