Plan drawing of the Links of Noltland red deer heap found on the island of Westray. 15 fully articulated, unprocessed deer were found in the settlement dating to the Neolithic Bronze Age transition period. Their deposition may be a response to a societal crisis linked to the introduction of metal to the Northern Isles, migration from Europe or cultural change that saw the end to monumentality and big house society. It could be a decommissioning deposit when the site was (temporarily) abandoned... whatever the reason 15 who deer is a massive statement to make, the deer presumably were special and had great meaning and/or value. The smell would have been overpowering as they were placed in a shallow pit. A bird wing and a fish were placed with them, adding an extra dimension to this intriguing deposit!
Image: Clarke et al 2017
#FindsFriday, nothing shiny to show but a pile of dusty old bones. 15 articulated #RedDeer skeletons found at the the Links Of Noltland, Westray #Orkney. Why place so many deer into the ground? What prompted this action? What do they represent? Their #Chalcolithic date may give us a hint... see ALT