Healed impact trauma to a Neolithic cattle frontal bone: A posthuman perspective

Area of Science:

• Archaeology
• Paleopathology
• Zooarchaeology

Background:

• Trauma from slaughter, such as pole-axing, is archaeologically documented in domesticated animals, particularly from the Roman period in Europe.
• Evidence for specific slaughter methods in the British Neolithic period is notably scarce.
• Neolithic long barrows in Wiltshire contain faunal remains that require contextual interpretation regarding their role and meaning.

Observation:

• A healed blunt-force impact trauma was identified on the frontal bone of a domestic cattle skull.
• The skull was excavated from the Beckhampton Road Neolithic long barrow in Wiltshire.
• This injury pattern suggests an unsuccessful attempt at slaughter.

Findings:

• This represents the first reported evidence of slaughter trauma in domestic cattle from the British Neolithic.
• The healed trauma provides direct evidence of the methods used, or attempted, for animal slaughter.
• The discovery contributes to understanding animal handling and ritualistic practices in the Neolithic period.

Implications:

• This paleopathological finding informs our understanding of Neolithic animal husbandry and ritual practices.
• The study highlights the value of posthumanist perspectives in interpreting archaeological faunal remains.
• Paleopathologists can contribute significantly to posthumanist frameworks by analyzing animal trauma evidence.