Ritual Slaughter through the Eyes of the Butcher: Perspectives on a Complex Practice
Ritual slaughter has long been recognised as a significant custom in the archaeological record of Iron Age Scandinavia, but the practice itself has often been treated hastily. This paper aims for a more thorough approach by focusing on the butcher as a craftsperson. It draws on evidence from litera...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Svenska Arkeologiska Samfundet
2020-12-01
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| Series: | Current Swedish Archaeology |
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| Online Access: | https://193.10.12.85:443/csa/article/view/46 |
| _version_ | 1797861275365015552 |
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| author | Bettina Stolle |
| author_facet | Bettina Stolle |
| author_sort | Bettina Stolle |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Ritual slaughter has long been recognised as a significant custom in the archaeological record of Iron Age Scandinavia, but the practice itself has often been treated hastily. This paper aims for a more thorough approach by focusing on the butcher as a craftsperson. It draws on evidence from literary sources and implement use, as well as the zooarchaeological record, which shows specific butchery practices in ritual contexts. The results suggest that ritual slaughter needs to be understood as a collective undertaking with multiple stages. The role of the chieftain as potential performer should be toned down. Instead, the process probably incorporated skilled people from various segments of society.
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| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:59:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-426d18e052bf4a4dad2da995b436efa7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1102-7355 2002-3901 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:59:36Z |
| publishDate | 2020-12-01 |
| publisher | Svenska Arkeologiska Samfundet |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Swedish Archaeology |
| spelling | doaj.art-426d18e052bf4a4dad2da995b436efa72023-03-24T02:25:30ZengSvenska Arkeologiska SamfundetCurrent Swedish Archaeology1102-73552002-39012020-12-0128110.37718/CSA.2020.08Ritual Slaughter through the Eyes of the Butcher: Perspectives on a Complex PracticeBettina Stolle0Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University Ritual slaughter has long been recognised as a significant custom in the archaeological record of Iron Age Scandinavia, but the practice itself has often been treated hastily. This paper aims for a more thorough approach by focusing on the butcher as a craftsperson. It draws on evidence from literary sources and implement use, as well as the zooarchaeological record, which shows specific butchery practices in ritual contexts. The results suggest that ritual slaughter needs to be understood as a collective undertaking with multiple stages. The role of the chieftain as potential performer should be toned down. Instead, the process probably incorporated skilled people from various segments of society. https://193.10.12.85:443/csa/article/view/46ScandinaviaIron Agesocial zooarchaeologyanimal sacrifice |
| spellingShingle | Bettina Stolle Ritual Slaughter through the Eyes of the Butcher: Perspectives on a Complex Practice Current Swedish Archaeology Scandinavia Iron Age social zooarchaeology animal sacrifice |
| title | Ritual Slaughter through the Eyes of the Butcher: Perspectives on a Complex Practice |
| title_full | Ritual Slaughter through the Eyes of the Butcher: Perspectives on a Complex Practice |
| title_fullStr | Ritual Slaughter through the Eyes of the Butcher: Perspectives on a Complex Practice |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ritual Slaughter through the Eyes of the Butcher: Perspectives on a Complex Practice |
| title_short | Ritual Slaughter through the Eyes of the Butcher: Perspectives on a Complex Practice |
| title_sort | ritual slaughter through the eyes of the butcher perspectives on a complex practice |
| topic | Scandinavia Iron Age social zooarchaeology animal sacrifice |
| url | https://193.10.12.85:443/csa/article/view/46 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT bettinastolle ritualslaughterthroughtheeyesofthebutcherperspectivesonacomplexpractice |