Targeted radiocarbon dating of animal bones from ritual wetland depositions in early Iron Age (Denmark)

Abstract

The biography and chronology of ritual wetland deposits of animal bones has proven difficult to establish and has been based on the study and typology of associated groups of objects (ceramics and weapons) deposited at the same site. As a result, animal bone deposits are often generalised and perceived in plural, even though several sites exhibit evidence of multiple, clearly separate deposits of individual animals or animal parts. To surmount these shortcomings, this study presents and discusses the results of targeted radiocarbon dating of animal bone depositions from a number of well-established ritual wetland sites dated to the early Iron Age within the area of present-day Denmark. The study includes 154 radiocarbon dates from 10 different sites. The results confirm that the biography of ritual animal bone depositions in wetland sites is highly complex and indicate that the use of wetlands during the early Iron Age for ritualized deposition of animal bones lasted for up to 800 years from the 4th – 5th century BC. The study also shows that domestic animal species were preferred over wild animals, and it confirms that some species may have held a special significance. It is further suggested that some animal species were deposited in wetland ritual depositions for a longer period of time than others, and that some wetland sites were in use through multiple centuries, whereas others were not. All in all, the study suggests a complex and dynamic use of wetlands and animals as part of early Iron Age ritual life.