CAnADA FARM Bronze Age burials

Keeping the family together Canada Farm’s Bronze Age burials Just how quickly did Bronze Age people bury their dead? New work by Lauren Bailey, Martin green, and Martin J smith at Canada Farm suggests that they went to some lengths to display the deceased prior : Martin Green, unless otherwise stated Martin Green, : PHOTOS

ALL to their finally entering the earth.

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020-026_CA279_CanadaFarm_SC.indd 20 18/04/2013 10:45 ABOVE The he first hint of a ring ditch for this work was provided when Martin’s latest , seen as a mark emerged in 1972, when Martin excavation revealed the remains of seven fur- in the plough soil from Green noticed a faint, curving ther individuals at the Canada Farm ring ditch, the site of the Canada line in freshly ploughed soil on ranging in date from the Beaker period (c.2,500- Farm ring ditch. Climbing Gussage Cow Down, it his farm in 1,700 BC) through to the Middle Bronze Age incorporates the long Dorset. Lying a mere 20m from (c.1,500-1,150 BC). barrow visible crowning the boundary of the great Dorset Cursus, the Detailed osteological studies of the primary the ridge. Tring ditch was just another very small element burial by Francine O’Malley and of secondary ABOVE LEFT An aerial view looking north-east of a vast ‘sacred landscape’ associated with the interments by Lauren Bailey were undertaken along the course of the longest Cursus monument in . This as Master’s Degree dissertation projects at Cursus. The site of the landscape comprised several hundred monu- Bournemouth University, supervised by anthro- Canada Farm ring ditch ments dating to the Later Neolithic and Bronze pologist Martin Smith. This work produced evi- is marked with a cross, while an Iron Age ‘banjo’ Ages, which embellished the environs of the dence for remarkable post-mortem treatment of enclosure is visible at great spinal earthwork. the bodies, along with a surprisingly early radio- the bottom left. Thirty-five years later, the ring ditch appeared carbon date. Together these discoveries are chal- Main image The ring once more, this time on a 2007 geophysical lenging preconceptions of the treatment of the ditch on Canada Farm, first glimpsed in 1972, survey undertaken by Bournemouth University dead in these periods within Britain. under excavation in students supervised by Paul Cheetham. This The 2009 excavations revealed two phases of 2009. Two phases of picked up faint traces of a ditch and a substan- ditch. Both were very shallow, with the outer ditch are visible cut into tial central feature. As plough erosion was con- one about 0.4m deep and the later, inner ditch the chalk bedrock. The primary burial (inset) tinuing, Martin decided to excavate the site in that cut it only surviving to 0.1m. Such shal- lay within a shallow pit, 2009. The results were completely unexpected. lowness underscored the need for excavation just off centre in the before the feature was lost forever. These rings centre of the monument. are often the only surviving traces of quarry This contained a 25- to Digging the ring ditch 30-year-old male buried ditches cut to win material for a prominent with a Beaker. The cut for Longstanding readers may well be familiar with burial mound, long since obliterated by the a possible coffin is clearly Martin Green. He has spent several decades plough. The recent reconstruction of a burial visible in the bottom of investigating archaeological features, many monument on Down Farm emphasises the dra- the pit. prehistoric in date, on his farm (CA 67 and 138). matic nature of such a mound: the brilliant, While many of the published explorations have gleaming white sepulchre clearly demonstrates focused on monuments, artefacts, and environ- the powerful visual impact of earthworks cut mental evidence, with the help of staff and stu- from fresh chalk. dents at Bournemouth University Martin is now Nine postholes lie directly north-west of the re-examining the human remains. The catalyst rings, representing a structure around 3m 

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ABOVE The ‘coffin cut’ as first revealed within the primary grave in the ring ditch. Note one or two of the bones are just starting to appear. LEFT An excavation plan of the Canada Farm ring ditch. The remains of a post-built structure are visible top left, while two phases of ditch can be seen ringing the monument. The primary burial can be seen in the central pit, while the secondary interments were placed in or just beyond the ditch. Rob Read Rob

n: i o n: Ill us trat square. While the presence of a nondescript set of postholes might seem ambiguous at best, careful study of the human remains has revealed that the bodies were not simply buried and left to rest in peace immediately after death. The proximity of this structure to the burial monu- ment suggests it may have been where cadavers were temporarily laid after death, either in the form of a shielded morgue-style building or an excarnation platform where the deceased would be exposed to the elements, and any passing carrion birds.

A Beaker burial

The earliest burial within the ring ditch occu- pied a shallow recess, which may originally have held a rectangular, wooden coffin. This recess had been dug into the bedrock floor of a larger burial pit that was later in-filled with rubble.

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020-026_CA279_CanadaFarm_SC.indd 22 18/04/2013 10:46 The skeleton belonged to a 25- to 30-year- old male. Interred in a foetal position (known technically as semi-flexed), he had been placed on his left side, facing east towards the path of the rising sun. While the body was mostly articulated when buried, the jaw had been removed and placed in the north-west corner of the ‘coffin’. The left and right arms were also slightly out of position, possibly after being disturbed when the jaw was removed. Alternatively, their movement may simply have been a consequence of the fragile nature of the sinews binding the bones together at the time of burial. Telltale traces of gnawing by scavenging carnivores suggest that the body had experienced short-term exposure prior to burial, although defleshing was incomplete when the remains were interred. The cause of death was not certain, but the deceased had received an only partly healed head injury. Accompanying grave goods included two slivers of a boar’s tusk and an antler pendant or

‘toggle’ left touching the man’s jaw. A / Henderson Mike Middle-Rhine-style pottery Beaker and single : : ph oto flint flake were positioned by his feet. This par- ticular form of pot is associated with the Beaker Strip flesh from the bones ABOVE Conservator culture that developed in the Rhine region. It is Mike Henderson’s work the appearance of such pottery in Britain that The burial mound’s second phase of use belongs in progress on the beakers from Canada Farm. That triggers the development of the Wessex ‘Beaker to the Middle Bronze Age. Then, burials were to the left was placed culture’ – a term that was initially adopted to placed either within the ditches or, in one case, at the feet of the 25- refer to what is now seen as a specific social just outside them. The individuals were all rela- to 30-year-old male in stratum during the Early to Middle Bronze Age, tively young, including two adolescents (F3 and the primary burial. The beaker to the right was F4), one possible child or adolescent (F5), one characterised by ‘wealthy’ and elaborate grave found complete but goods. Although such cultural transmission infant of around 3 or 4 years old (F6), and, lying crushed in the northern implies a movement of people between the south-west of that, a cremation scatter associ- end of a further large, Rhine and Britain, strontium-isotope analysis ated with Middle Bronze Age pottery. On the shallow pit within the ring ditch. Seemingly basis of the teeth, the final burial to be uncov- on the deceased’s teeth indicates that he was unaccompanied, was native to the Wessex chalk lands. ered (F8), which cut the phase 1 ditch terminal, this Beaker buried with a Radiocarbon analysis of the primary burial was an adolescent or young adult. Aside from skeleton that was lost to returned a date of 2620-2470 cal BC, just pre- this last individual, whose skeleton had been either the localised acidic soil or ploughing? severely damaged by ploughing, most of the dating the start of the Beaker phase as currently FAR LEFT The Down defined in Britain. This seemed remarkably Canada Farm skeletons are relatively complete. Farm 80 ring ditch, lying early, so a second date was obtained from the The remains of F3 and F4 have been radio- in the field directly north same bone thanks to Mike Parker Pearson and carbon dated to 1620-1390 cal BC. While not all of Canada Farm, had its mound fully restored the bodies have been dated, similarities in burial the Beaker People Isotope Project. This produced in 2011. The positions a range of 2470-2290 cal BC. Failing a T-test for style suggest a similar time-frame. These five of three Middle Bronze significance, it is frustratingly clear that there is skeletons were all interred in a foetal position, Age burials found during a problem somewhere. A further test is required with the recovered bones lying in their correct excavation have been marked in cement. The to determine which of these results is more accu- anatomical position. While F3 had been cov- reconstruction reveals rate. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that even if ered with flint nodules, none of the burials was how prominent the the later date for the primary burial is closer to accompanied by any grave goods, conforming freshly made mound the truth, it would still be an exceptionally early to the normal tradition at that time. There was would have been. date for a burial that included a Wessex/Middle- plenty of evidence that considerable attention Rhine-style Beaker. had been paid to the bodies themselves. 

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of F4’s right kneecap, which has a distinct slice visible on its outer surface. More intriguing than the cut-marks, how- ever, was the presence of several circular holes positioned at the ends of the leg bones. These were identified on the thigh and lower leg bones of F5 and F3. The holes measure approxi- mately 9mm in diameter, and penetrate into the ends of the bones to varying depths. They are not consistent with any disease process or any previously detected form of natural post- mortem change. In fact, the only explanation is that these holes had been manually – and deliberately – drilled into the bone. As these individuals were relatively young, their leg bones were still growing. The curving end plates at the long bone joints do not per- manently fuse to the shaft of the bone until it Further study of the Middle Bronze Age ABOVE The secondary stops growing. With this in mind, it is particu- remains in the lab revealed some particularly burials F4 and F5 were larly interesting that while all the drill cavi- positioned within the unusual examples of skeletal modification. ties in the long bones were associated with the secondary ditch terminal. The first discovery was of multiple chop-marks F4 was an adolescent, ends of the bones, not all of the holes located in on the right shoulder blade of F4. Cut-marks while F5 was either a the shafts had holes in the corresponding end were also detected on the socket of the upper child or an adolescent. plates. In the case of F3, for example, the drill arm bone. The repetition of such scoring in holes penetrate both ends of the right femur small, localised areas does not match the kind but only into the unfused shafts – the end of wounds inflicted during fighting. Instead plates had not been similarly modified. In con- it has far more in common with chop-marks trast, the bottom end of the left femur exhibits found on butchered animal bones. This par- a similar drill hole through the end plate, with allel may suggest that similar methods were only a slight continuation of this hole into the being used to strip the flesh from human shaft. This differential distribution can only corpses at Canada Farm. mean one thing: the holes must have been Unfortunately, the poor preservation of the made after death when the bodies were in a remaining shoulder blades prevents any appre- sufficiently advanced state of decomposition ciation of how widespread this practice was. that the ends of these bones were accessible. While three other potential cut-marks were In addition to the holes noted on the leg observed within the sample (including the left bones was a smaller drill hole (approximately and right shinbone of F3), it is not clear whether The end plate of the 3mm) through the centre of the first metacarpal they were genuinely ancient in origin or the F3 left femur (LEFT) – the bone that articulates with the thumb – on shows where a hole result of excavation damage. This is also true was drilled through it, the juvenile remains of F5. This hole required as well as damage that would be consistent with articulation during drilling. A drill hole visible in the shaft of the right femur of F3 (RIGHT) is not visible in the corresponding end plate (or epiphysis). This indicates that it was not articulated with the shaft of the femur when the drilling was done. A drill hole can also be seen (Far right) Lauren Bailey and Martin Bailey Smith Lauren in the upper end plate and Martin Bailey Smith Lauren

: : ph oto of F3’s right femur. : ph oto

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020-026_CA279_CanadaFarm_SC.indd 24 18/04/2013 10:46 skilled workmanship, and it is unlikely to have been made while the bone was still surrounded by soft tissue. It is also interesting that while the bones of the hands and feet were extremely well preserved in all cases, this was the only example of a drill hole in such an area. The modifications to the long bones must have occurred after they were no longer fixed in their anatomically correct locations. Despite this, the individuals were still buried as though they remained articulated. While trepanation, that is removing a disc of bone from the skull, has been widely observed throughout pre- history, the drilling of other human skeletal parts has little, if any, precedence in published literature. One other British example currently under investigation is visible on an elbow bone from a skeleton excavated by the Cambridge Lauren Bailey and Martin Bailey Smith Lauren Archaeological Unit in Over, Cambridgeshire.

This skeleton has also been dated to the Bronze s: ph oto Age, raising the tantalising prospect of a shared parts of two individuals had motivation for the ritual. disintegrated into loose bones For further parallels one must travel far from prior to this. Bronze Age Wessex. Drilled human forearms That comparable drill holes were removed as macabre war trophies in pre- are so rare need not mean the historic California. Human crania were simi- customs they are associated larly adapted for suspension and display in with were unusual. If the holes prehispanic Peru, although again this relates were made in an attempt to Top On the right to trophy-taking rather than an aspect of keep skeletons connected, it is entirely plau- shoulder blade of the funerary practice. sible that other, less destructive methods may adolescent in burial F4, also have been used, both at Canada Farm and multiple cut- or chop- elsewhere. The tightly flexed, foetal positions marks are visible (in the So what was going on? centre of the photograph). of the Bronze Age skeletons have prompted They provided the first It has been suggested by Martin Smith and Martin Green to speculate that the bodies may clue that there were some Michael Allen that the drill holes at Canada have been wrapped or bound in position. Such unusual post-mortem Farm may represent an attempt to keep the binding could have slowed the decay of some processes underway. INSET This deep cut-mark skeletons held together following death. of the body’s more fibrous soft tissues, in par- was visible on the right The skeletons certainly appear to have been ticular the ligaments and perhaps at least some kneecap of F4. arranged anatomically correctly at the time of of the skin. This would effectively produce a burial, despite the drilling proving that at least partially ‘mummified’ corpse. If such a cadaver was not immediately buried but retained in a structure such as a house, this treatment would help the deceased retain their form as an indi- vidual rather than a loose assortment of bones. Inevitably, the greater the length of time that elapsed prior to burial, the greater the degree of deterioration to a body. Eventually the corpse would fall apart. Given that the drill holes could only have been produced some time after death, it seems plausible that they represent an attempt to keep the body intact by pegging it back together, presumably using

Lauren Bailey and Martin Bailey Smith Lauren wooden pegs or dowels that have not survived

: : ph oto over time. 

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The Cladh Hallan contemporary with the second phase of site The characteristics displayed by the two phases use, and share broad of burial conform to some general archaeolog- similarities such as the ical norms for these periods. The grave goods tightly flexed arrange- associated with the earliest burial are typical ment of the skeletons. of Beaker interments, while the later phases re- It is possible that shared defined an ancient monument before insertion customs were being per- of further burials that were devoid of grave goods. formed, which raises the But what was really happening at Canada Farm? question of how deep The answer may lie in an alternative explana- these similarities may tion for the early date of the primary skeleton in run. It is also possible comparison to the Wessex/Middle Rhine Beaker. that the position of the We now know that a variety of complex burial Canada Farm bodies was practices took place in Neolithic and Bronze changed at the point Age Britain, frequently involving manipula- when they were finally tion of the skeleton, including examples where laid to rest in the ground. considerable periods of time elapsed between The Canada Farm

death and eventual interment. One well-known and Martin Bailey Smith Lauren discoveries must raise

example of this involves the mummified human phOTO: the possibility that a remains discovered at Cladh Hallan on South widespread practice Uist in the (see CA 265). ABOVE Here a drill of curating the dead, through practices such The tightly flexed Cladh Hallan skeletons had hole can be seen as mummification or desiccation – literally passing through the been temporarily interred in a peat in what drying – of the corpse, was being performed in first metacarpal from appears to have been a deliberate act of mum- the juvenile F5. different parts of the British Isles rather than mification, as opposed to the burial of bodies being peculiar to the Hebrides. in peat with no intention of retrieving the Returning to the primary skeleton, if this remains. The mummies caused further excite- body had also been retained and ‘curated’ after ment when it was discovered that they were death for an extended period, it could explain composite works containing body parts from the apparent discordance between the date of at least six different individuals, whose remains the burial and its associated Beaker. Such a sug- have been dated to between 1,600 and 1,300 BC, gestion presents a note of caution to anyone but which were not finally buried until around BELOW Drilling has dating human burials purely on the presence of also been identified 1,000 BC. That the remains came from indi- associated objects. But if the curation of ‘mum- on a Bronze Age viduals whose lives spanned three centuries of specimen from Over, mified’ bodies was a tradition that had a long history has led researchers to suggest Cambridgeshire, where an pedigree, exactly how far back do such practices that selection may have been linked by kinship. articulated skeleton was go? At the nearby burial site of Wor Barrow, also found with a perforated No DNA analysis has been performed on the on Cranborne Chase, investigations are cur- right ulna or elbow bone. Canada Farm skeletons, but a shared genetic rently under way by Mike Allen and Martin defect between the primary skeleton (F1) and Smith to test this question further, inspired F3 may be an indication of a genetic lineage. again by anomalous dating results and by Both of these skeletons exhibit a mutation the intriguing arrangement of skeletons that results in the presence of an extra tooth found there. Watch this space for further in an abnormal location. In this case, both details in the near future.Ca additional teeth were located in the upper jaw. The presence of supernumerary teeth ACKnOWLEDgEMEnTs is thought to affect between 0.1% and 3.8% We would like to extend our thanks to all the people who of a population, making it very rare. To find have facilitated the excavation and analysis of the Canada this anomaly in two out of the seven Canada Farm ring ditch, and this subsequent article. In particular, we would like to acknowledge Francine O’Malley, for her Farm individuals strongly suggests that the osteoarchaeological analysis of the primary burial; Dave feature has been inherited. Cousins, for his invaluable help presenting our images; While the Cladh Hallan remains have Mike Allen and Mike Parker Pearson, for their help dating the remains and reviewing this article; and Chris Evans

Courtesy Chris Evans, Cambridge Archaeological Unit Archaeological Cambridge Evans, Chris Courtesy been dated considerably later than the from the Cambridge Archaeological Unit. earliest activity at Canada Farm, they are phOTO: phOTO:

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