Bovine burial in Krzczonowice. Archaeozoological study of a Late Neolithic animal deposit

Abstract

The archaeozoological material was unearthed from the archaeological site Krzczonowice no. 63 (Sandomierz Upland, Poland). Bovine bone remains were discovered, and their features were interpreted based on the archaeological context, that is a sacrificial pit, which contained also flint tools and flakes, pottery fragments, and a few other animal and human bones. The pottery accompanying the skeletal remains linked the specimens to the Globular Amphora culture (Late Neolithic period), and this assumption was supported by radiocarbon dating. Archaeozoological analysis revealed that the examined animal individual was most probably female, 7–9 years old, and 125–133 cm high at withers. The cadaver was deposited laying on the left flank, with bended neck and head, partly disarticulated (both thoracic and right pelvic limb). No marks of butchery were identified in the bone assemblage, except for evidence for post mortem decornisation. We compared the results with accessible literature and concluded that the animal was most probably an object of ritual activities (slaughter and inhumation). Moreover, a lack of complete archaeozoological analysis of such findings from Sandomierz Upland supports the originality and significance of our work.