In a recent archaeological excavation in Finland, a Stone Age burial site has revealed surprising findings. The grave, dating back approximately 8,000 years, contained the remains of a child and an assortment of grave goods, including bird feathers, canine hairs, and plant fibers. These findings provide valuable insights into the burial practices of the Stone Age.
The grave was first discovered in 1991 in Majoonsuo, an archaeological site near the town of Outokumpu in eastern Finland. The site was identified as a burial ground due to the presence of red ochre, an iron-rich soil commonly associated with burial sites and rock art, which had stained a gravel roadway. In 2018, the Finnish Heritage Agency, a cultural and research institution in Helsinki, conducted an excavation of the site, deeming it “at risk of destruction.”
The grave contained the teeth of a child, who, based on dental analysis, was estimated to have died between the ages of 3 and 10. The presence of two quartz arrowheads, identified by their trapezoidal shape, suggested that the grave dates back to the Mesolithic period, or Middle Stone Age.
In addition to the human remains and arrowheads, the researchers discovered barbules from the feathers of waterfowl, possibly used to create a bed of down feathers for the child. A single falcon feather fragment was also found, which may have been used as fletching to guide an arrow or as a decoration on a garment.
Perhaps the most intriguing finding was the discovery of 24 fragments of mammalian hair at the base of the burial. Three of these hairs were identified as canine, possibly from a wolf or a dog. The researchers speculate that these could have been part of the burial, perhaps laid at the feet of the child. Alternatively, the hairs could have come from clothing, such as footwear made from dogskin or wolfskin, worn by the child.
“Dogs interred with the deceased have been found in, for example, Skateholm, a famous burial site in southern Sweden dating back some 7,000 years,” said Kristiina Mannermaa, a researcher and associate professor in the Department of Cultures at the University of Helsinki. “The discovery in Majoonsuo is sensational, even though there is nothing but hairs left of the animal or animals — not even teeth. We don’t even know whether it’s a dog or a wolf.”
The researchers also unearthed plant fibers, possibly from willows or nettles, that might have been used to make clothing or fishing nets. Given the highly acidic soil in this area of Finland, the archaeologists were surprised at how well some of the organic remains have been preserved over the centuries.
This discovery underscores the importance of archaeological research in shedding light on our shared human history. It also demonstrates the potential for further discoveries in regions with similar soil conditions.
Source: The Guardian Magazine
Ruins and Relics 