Stone axes throw new light on Baltic stone age mortuary rites

Area of Science:

• Archaeology
• Mesolithic Period
• Lithic Analysis

Background:

• Mesolithic lithic tools as funerary offerings are understudied.
• Personal ornaments are interpreted as social identity markers, unlike utilitarian stone tools.
• This oversight creates a gap in understanding Mesolithic mortuary practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To challenge the perception of Mesolithic lithic tools as solely utilitarian.
• To investigate the role of stone axes as grave goods.
• To explore potential social and ritualistic significance of axes in burials.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of a substantial stone axe funerary collection from Zvejnieki cemetery, Latvia.
• Multi-proxy approach comparing life histories of axes in burials versus settlement contexts.
• Microscopic examination of wear traces on axes, including one from a female grave.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests selection of unused axes as grave offerings.
• Unusual wear traces on an axe from a female grave indicate potential use in burial rites.
• A strong correlation between axes and women/children at Zvejnieki was observed.

Conclusions:

• Mesolithic stone axes held significance beyond mere utility, serving as deliberate grave goods.
• The findings challenge traditional gendered stereotypes of stone tool possession in Stone Age societies.
• The study highlights the need for re-evaluating lithic artifacts in mortuary contexts.