Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Dying Embers

Fire-lighting Technology and Mortuary Practice in Early Bronze Age Britain

Bibliographic Data

ID11615420
AuthorsAnne Teather (0000-0003-4207-2486, Institute of Archaeology, corresponding author), A Chamberlain (0000-0003-1517-6538, Chamberlain University, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume173
Issue2
Pages188-205
Publication date2016-04-28
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueArchaeological Journal (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0066-5983 • E-ISSN: 2373-2288
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00665983.2016.1177258
OpenAlexW2342760453
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited29

We examine the known examples of strike-a-light kits within prehistoric mortuary contexts in mainland Britain. Building on the seminal work of Clarke in the 1970s, and Needham’s recent work on Beaker grave groups, many further examples of this burial practice are documented from both historic and recent excavations. It is evident that strike-a-light kits have a considerable longevity in prehistoric mortuary practice, with all but one dating to between c. 2500 cal. BC and c. 1500 cal. BC. Our analysis presents new radiocarbon dates and data from stable isotope studies of human remains that indicate the practice reached a peak between c. 2200 and c. 2000 cal. BC. Strike-a-light kits appear to be associated both with individuals born local to their burial place, as well as those born at a considerable geographical distance. It is argued that strike-a-light kits had a particular significance in the burial of adult males, and that kits were symbolic inclusions rather than being linked to the practice of fire-lighting during the men’s life-time in this period

Ancient history · Archaeology · Beaker · Bronze Age · Mainland · Prehistory · Radiocarbon dating · Ancient Egypt and Archaeology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · History · Paleopathology and ancient diseases

  • Družbena struktura na primeru poznoantičnih grobišč v Sloveniji

    Open Access•Kaja Pavletič•Arheološki vestnik•2023

  • A cemetery of the Gáta–Wieselburg culture at Nagycenk (Western Hungary)

    János Gömöri, Eszter Melis et al.•Acta Archaeologica•2018

  • Bodies in Motion

    Catherine J Frieman, Anne Teather et al.•Norwegian Archaeological Review•2019

  • More than Cool Reason

    George Lakoff, Mark Turner•More than Cool Reason•1989

  • Trauma, Culture, and Metaphor

    John P Wilson, Jacob D Lindy•Trauma, Culture, and Metaphor•2013

  • V.— Two Bronze Age Cairns in South Wales

    Open Access•Cyril Fox•Archaeologia•1938

  • Ancient Stone Implements, Weapons, and Ornaments, of Great Britain

    Open Access•John Evans•Ancient Stone Implements,…•2015

  • Cist Burials and Food Vessels—some Recent Discoveries and Rediscoveries in Western Scotland

    Open Access•Alex Morrison•Glasgow Archaeological Journal•1971

  • Diverhøj

    Pauline Asingh•Journal of Danish Archaeology•1987

  • From Stonehenge to the Baltic

    Michael Parker Pearson, Michael Pearson et al.•From Stonehenge to the Baltic•2007

  • Pattern and diversity in the Early Neolithic mortuary practices of Britain and Ireland

    Open Access•Chris Fowler•Documenta Praehistorica•2010

  • Barrows of the Chilterns

    James Dyer, James F Dyer•Archaeological Journal•1959

  • Excavation of a beaker cist burial with meadowsweet at Home Farm, Udny Green, Aberdeenshire

    Hillary K Murray, Ian A G Shepherd et al.•Proceedings of the Society of…•2008

  • Two Beaker Burials from Chilbolton, Hampshire

    Open Access•Andrew D Russel, W A Boismier et al.•Proceedings of the Prehistoric…•1990

  • The Antler Maceheads Dating Project

    Open Access•Roy Loveday, Alex Gibson et al.•Proceedings of the Prehistoric…•2007

  • Excavations at Upper Largie Quarry, Argyll & Bute, Scotland

    Open Access•Martin L Cook, Martin Cook et al.•Proceedings of the Prehistoric…•2010

  • Double Edged Blades

    Open Access•Catherine J Frieman•Proceedings of the Prehistoric…•2014

  • Fire production in the deep past? The expedient strike-a-light model

    Open Access•Andrew C Sorensen, Andrew Sorensen et al.•Journal of Archaeological Science•2013

  • Transforming Beaker Culture in North-West Europe; Processes of Fusion and Fission

    Open Access•Stuart Needham•Proceedings of the Prehistoric…•2005

  • Bayesian Analysis of Radiocarbon Dates

    Open Access•Christopher B Ramsey•Radiocarbon•2009

  • Chronology of the Danish Bronze Age Based on 14 C Dating of Cremated Bone Remains

    Open Access•Jesper Olsen, Karen Margrethe Hornstrup et al.•Radiocarbon•2011

  • Women, Death and Social Change in the British Bronze Age

    Joanna Brück•Norwegian Archaeological Review•2009

  • The Flint Miners of Blackpatch

    J H Pull•Geographical Journal•1933

  • Elemental bodies

    Gavin Macgregor•World Archaeology•2008

  • Ritual and remembrance at a prehistoric ceremonial complex in central Scotland

    Open Access•Gordon Noble, Kenneth Brophy•Antiquity•2011

  • Flint and pyrite

    Open Access•Dick Stapert, Lykke Johansen•Antiquity•1999

  • Male symbols or warrior identities? The 'archery burials' of the Danish Bell Beaker Culture

    Open Access•Torben Sarauw•Journal of Anthropological…•2007

Unique citing works3
Citations per year0,38
Citation span2018 - 2023 (6)
Citation velocityhistorical
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 2
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae