Ritualistic prehistERIA!

Taking up the latest blog prompt, I came across Krystal's post regarding the possibility of early ritualistic practices at the site of Sima de Los Huesos in Spain, boasting H. heidelbergensis skeletal remains associated with various carnivore remains, all set in illustrious cave settings. Krystal mentioned the ritualistic potential of the site, discussed by the authors of the paper, a common theory for unusual sites set during the Paleolithic. I recently began reading the book "The Woman in the Shaman's Body" written by Barbara Tedlock, PhD. Tedlock begins the book by introducing the reader to the site Dolni Vestonice, located in Spain, and the beautiful and auspicious artifacts discovered there.

A photograph of the excavation of the burial of a female shaman underneath

 mammoth scapulae at Dolni Vestonice. 

Excavated within Dolni Vestonice was a burial of particular significance: the burial of a 40-year old woman clasping arctic fox remains, placed beneath two mammoth scapulae which leaned against each other to form a shelter. To many, this burial signifies an individual of great importance and high status within the community, especially when one considers the presence of fox remains which are often associated with ritual significance. Tedlock's interpretation of the woman's burial is that the way in which she was buried, as well as the significance of the fox remains clasped in her hands, indicates that her position within the community was shamanic. 

Artist's rendition of the burial of the female shaman clasping arctic fox skeletal remains.

What allows the archaeologist, or the author, to make these claims? In class, we spoke of indicators of high status such as burial goods, body placement and treatment, but can the presence of fox remains placed within the burial truly be an indicator across time and space of shamanic influence?  Tedlock's book discusses the tendency for society (that includes archaeologists) to assume that indivuduals of high  status or shamanic standing within the community are all male, but argues that status markers within burials disprove this assumption, were we to look more closely at the morphological sex of the skeletal remains. The importance of attempting to keep open minds in archaeological interpretation cannot be stressed enough, as we have all seen the consequences of narrowing our vision. How much could we really discover regarding the ritual or ceremonial practices of these people? How much should we?

Personally, I have no doubt in mind that this woman held an important, possibly spiritual, position within her community. The effort and intention put into her burial displays this. I suppose my questions are "What can we truly know regarding ritual or ceremonial practices within a paleolithic community? Are there truly universal indicators of shamanism or ritual? Are many of these individuals women but assumed to be men and is this relevant to further understanding social structure within these communities?"

I intend to research this further! I hope you enjoyed this little intro to Dolni Vestonice and the topic :)

An artist's rendition of what the Paleolithic village of Dolni Vestonice 

would have looked and functioned like.