ANTHR 206 LECTURE 20

Cognitive Archaeology Overview

• Focus on the Baikal Archaeology Project.

• Exploration of the Shamanskii Mys cemetery provides insights into cognitive archaeology.

• Examines the role of shamans and their visibility in the archaeological record.

Baikal Archaeology Project Overview

• Situated along a 600 km long coastline of Lake Baikal.

• Highlights the archaeological context and relevant findings from Shamanskii Mys.

Mortuary Variability

Early Bronze Age Community Cemeteries

• Cemeteries serve as interment sites for all community members.

• Example sites:

  • Khuzhir-Nuge: ~80 graves.

  • Uliarba: ~40 graves.

Specialized Cemeteries

• Only select members interred in certain specialized cemeteries.

• Example sites include:

  • Shamanskii Mys: 11 graves.

  • Kurma: ~20 graves.

  • Khadarta: 12 graves.

• Variability in organization and size leads to classifications.

Mortuary Sites and Camps

• Important sites include Ontokhoi, Shamanskii Mys, Kharansin, Khadarta, and others.

• Each site functions both as a mortuary and campsite.

Role and Description of Shamans

• Shamans serve as leaders, healers, and religious practitioners.

• Archaeological evidence shows that every social unit requires access to at least one shaman.

Enigma of Shamanskii Mys

• Notable for its geographical position and unusual grave goods found in 11 excavated graves (1972-1975).

• Most interred individuals were adults; included dog interments and seal remains.

Seal Examination

• Skeletal analysis of seals, focusing on mammalian tooth anatomy.

• Age and season of death can be discerned from tooth thin sections.

Hunting Seasons and Seal Behavior

• Hunting primarily occurs in spring; seals taken in November.

• Seasonality linked to seal ecology; specimens show varied hunting times.

Age Structure Analysis

Population and Representation

• Small population structure; predominantly younger seals, lacking representation of older adults (16+).

• Deviation from modern demographic structures; absence of older adults may suggest differing reproductive strategies.

Comparative Analysis

• Age structures from various sites differ from modern samples and from each other.

• Significant differences noted in the number of pups per year, hinting at ritual and food distribution.

Ontokhoi and Other Sites

• Sites share characteristics but differ in findings; Shamanskii Mys noted for high quantities of seal remains.

• Other sites mostly contain isolated teeth, likely used for different purposes including fishing.

Contemporary Cemeteries

• Modern comparisons drawn with sites like Khuzhir-Nuge, Kurma, and Uliarba.

Summary of Shamanskii Mys

• Unique aspects include:

  • Topographical location.

  • Distinctive grave goods and sacrifices (e.g., young seals).

  • Unusual demographic focus on adult males with few children and females.

Ethnographic Examples of Shamans

• Shamans and their drums documented in regions like the Altai Mountains in Siberia.

• Consistent motifs across various ethnographic records.

Prehistoric Art and Excavation

• Rock art depicting shamans in Siberia; its age approximates known archaeological materials.

• Most archaeological sites have been extensively excavated, offering a substantial historical perspective.

Antiquity of Shaman Graves at Shamanskii Mys

• Evidence of shaman graves from various periods: Early Neolithic, Late Neolithic, and Bronze Age.

• Comparison with shamans in other Bronze Age cemeteries shows continuity in burial practices and absence of special rites.