Animal heads used as trophies at the Mesolithic/Neolithic transition (ca. 5500 Cal BC)
Résumé
Recent technological observations and experiments on animal skulls led to confirm the use of heads of large cervids (elk, red deer) as trophies, at the transitional phase between Mesolithic and Neolithic, in Northern Europe, ca. 5500 Cal BC. After they have been stripped of fur and flesh, skulls have been sliced into specific parts using indirect percussion. The mid part - the one that is still holding the new grown antlers - has been eventually used as trophy. Description of the observed patterns are presented and discussed, together with implications of this result to understand Mesolithic-Neolithic interactions in Northern Europe
