Zooarchaeology and the elusive feast

From Performance to Aftermath

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3919193
AutoresP A Rowley‐conwy (0000-0002-9494-3151, Durham University, autor de correspondencia), Peter Rowley-Conwy (Department of Archaeology, Durham University, Durham, England)
Año2018
Volumen50
Número2
Páginas221-241
Fecha de publicación2018-03-15
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaWorld Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0043-8243 • E-ISSN: 1470-1375
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/00438243.2018.1445024
OpenAlexW2787894892
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas17
Referencias citadas54

Ethnographic descriptions of feasts reveal that consumption of meat is usually prominent. Zooarchaeological evidence may thus provide the best way of seeing feasts in the archaeological record. The accumulation of trophy arrays and ongoing high-status activities are confusing behaviours that may be misconstrued as archaeological evidence of feasts. A four-fold classification of zooarchaeological evidence for feasts is put forward: 'over the top' (high status); 'ritually charged garbage' (often religious); 'small but special' (nevertheless sometimes visible); and 'was this feasting?' (sometimes equivocal). This typology may allow archaeologists to distinguish between the ethnographic categories of competitive feasts and solidarity feasts

Archaeological evidence · Trophy · Zooarchaeology · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Culinary Culture and Tourism · Geographies of human-animal interactions