Earthen Long Barrows of Northern Europe: Some Considerations - Blogosophia

Blogosophia: Earthen Long Barrows of Northern Europe: Some Considerations

This post is by way of an introduction to a new blog, Blogosophia, which is an offshoot of Archaeosophia, more of whom in due course, after a quick look at the most recent post by author Jasmine Bonning, who describes herself as an archaeologist and researcher. The linked post on Neolithic barrows is well worth reading, as will be apparent from the opening paragraphs...

Monumental earthen long barrows, or long mounds, lie scattered across the European landscape from Poland to Ireland and represent one of the most tangible and enduring confirmations of Neolithic peoples’ funerary practices. Their elongated forms hug the land, nestling, like the ancestors inside them, against the body of the earth. Though no two are conspicuously alike, their shapes generally conform to similar constructional characteristics, but have been noted to include oval, rectangular, trapezoidal and triangular layouts.

This brief investigation will attempt to account for their various guises and locations by identifying whether a parity or difference can be signified in their aspects between the northern and the western barrows and whether this constitutes a continuum or transference of building practices and monumental traditions, or whether they should be seen as separate entities, with distinct and specific identities, which may allow us to glimpse facets of long-departed communities and their inherent weltanschauung.

One of the most challenging tasks we have when addressing the past is gaining insights to the world views of our ancestors, and how those views came to be, how they shaped lives in the past, and to what extent they still persist to the present day, whether we are aware of that or not. This is a long and detailed essay, during which the author suggests the following...

It is therefore tentatively proposed here, a connection between the shape of the axes themselves and long mounds as forms of ritual symbolism that equate to ceremonial interaction between the worlds of the living and the dead. The ritual importance of the polished stone axe in Neolithic society has been noted (Clarke, 1965, Nilsen, 1984, Rech, 1979 cited by Midgley, 2005) and it seems therefore interesting that alongside the symbolic use of axes when we find them associated with funerary goods, in ritual deposits and as indicators of social identity, is their inherent connection between their point of origin – the earth – which can also be seen as humans’ point of departure as evidenced by the earthen coverings of barrows and mounds with the directly axe-like form of the funerary architecture itself.

It is cautiously suggested here, that there be a subtle yet observable relationship between the shape of the axes, evident as prestige-related non-functional or ceremonial axe heads and the intrinsic shape of the long mound, diffusing perhaps in tandem with the already noted development of form from the LBK longhouse.

As we have seen, axes have been found carved into some of the sarsens at Stonehenge, as well as many other megalithic sites, and this linked essay offers some intriguing insights into the role played by the axe-head in contemporary Neolithic societies - to read the entire article just head over to Blogosophia.

Jasmine Bonning also works at Archaeosophia, a research company described thus...

With a strong academic background in in the areas of anthropology, history and archaeology, Archaeosophia has extensive experience in gathering hard to find information as well as having access to information from private collections, archives, libraries and catalogues.

We will consolidate the material into attractive, original and easy-to-use content for film, television, documentary and publishing.

There is a portfolio available, as well as a list of services, whilst the main page is here.

Megalithic Visions, linked to in this post, is also well worth a visit.

image - West Kennet Long Barrow by Hrvoje Crvelin from here