The materiality of dung: the manipulation of dung in Neolithic Mediterranean caves

Documenta Praehistorica

Dimitrij Mlekuž¹ 

[1] Ghent University, Faculty of Arts and Philosophy, Department of Archaeology and ancient history of Europe$$

关键词: archaeology;    Neolithic;    Mediterranean;    herding;    dung;    materiality;   

DOI  :  10.4312/dp.36.14

学科分类：地球科学(综合)

来源: Univerza v Ljubljani * Filozofska Fakulteta / University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Philosophy

【 摘 要 】

This paper discusses the formation of layers of burnt herbivore dung in Neolithic, Eneolithic and Bronze Age Mediterranean caves. While these layers are clearly connected with transhumant pastoralism and the practice of keeping herds in the caves, their formation should not be seen as the result of purely practical and ‘rational’ reasons. In this paper, I develop an argument that they are remnants of a complex manipulation of substances which includes burning dung to make white ash. Thus instead of seeing dung as a culturally neutral refuse which has to be disposed of, we might see its burning and deposition as the cultural manipulation of potent substance.

【 授权许可】

Unknown