miércoles, 11 de junio de 2014

Polish meteorite venerated by Neolithic man?

A meteorite found in the remains of a Neolithic hut in Bolkow, north west Poland, may have been used for shamanic purposes, academics have argued.

The meteorite was discovered among a large group of sacral objects in a hut on the banks of Swidwie Lake in the West Pomeranian region. Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology in Szczecin found items including an amulet, a so-called 'magic staff' fashioned from antlers and decorated with geometrical motifs, and an engraved bone spear. They were made about 9000 years ago. The discovery of the meteorite, which is 8cm high and 5.3cm wide at the base, proved especially intriguing in this context.

thenews.pl

“The meteorite was brought to the hut as an object of special significance, because it came 'from another world,” Professor Tadeusz Galinski told the Polish Press Agency. “The item became an object in their belief system, and perhaps even a prop in the practice of shamanic magic,” he said. Archaeologists have been carrying out excavations at the site for several years now. The meteorite was discovered last year, but at first academics failed to identify it correctly. (nh)  thenews.pl


Actualización 29-06-14: Archaeologists discovered a meteorite fragment in a 9 thousand years old hut 
Archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology (IAE) PAS in Szczecin discovered a meteorite fragment inside the remains of a hut dating back more than 9,000 years in Bolków by the lake Świdwie in Western Pomerania. 


Photo by T. Galiński

It is a natural pyrite meteorite fragment with cylindrical shape and porous, corrugated side surface. It has a height of 8 cm, width of 5.3 cm at the base and 3.5 cm at the top.

"The meteorite was brought to the shelter as a special object, +not of this world+, which must have been obvious to the contemporary men, knowledgeable of stone raw materials. The thing became an object of belief, and maybe even shamanic magic" - told PAP Prof. Tadeusz Galiński of IAE, head of the research project. According to the discoverer, this is the first such find in the history of archaeology.

According to the professor, the discovered fragment is surprisingly heavy. "In addition, the side profile shape suggests various associations; the original finder millennia ago probably saw in it shapes of a mysterious world of spirits" - added the scientist.

Extraordinary discovery was accompanied by numerous tools made of flint, wood, bone and antler, and a rich group of objects associated with the spiritual culture: an amulet, bone spear tip with engraved ornament and so-called magic stick made of antler, decorated with geometric motifs.

In addition to the remains of the pole hut, which contained the meteorite, archaeologists discovered a second, almost identical structure. In both of them, excavated in peat layer, in the central part there were preserved traces of hearths.

Excavations in Bolków have continued for several years. The meteorite discovery was made during last year's work, but only now, thanks to specialized studies, researchers were able to determine the origin of the unusual object.

Excavations are conducted by the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology PAS. The research project is funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education under the National Programme for the Development of Humanities. PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland, Szymon Zdziebłowski


Actualización 25-09-14: Mesolithic sanctuary reveals constellation riddle
Evidence for ritual and possible astronomical practices during the Mesolithic period, 9000 years ago, has been uncovered in Bolków by lake Świdwie, Western Pomerania, by archaeologists from the Institute of Archaeology and Ethnology in Szczecin, Poland.

Bundles of magic

This Mesolithic-era site recently became famous for the artefacts found at one particular hut. A number of possible shamanistic ritual objects along with a fragment of meteorite were discovered last year. (Past Horizons. July 07, 2014

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To add to this discovery, the archaeologists have investigated the remains of two further pine and aspen pole structures which would have stood to a height of some 1.5 metres (5 ft). Inside both of the structures were buried bundles of pine and birch bark, bunches of grass – Festuca ovina - as well as bone fragments from forest dwelling animals. Now the archaeologists are more certain than ever that this is a rare glimpse into the world of Mesolithic beliefs...


Actualización: Santuario Mesolítico revela evidencia de la práctica ritual y astronómica - Nueva Era
 

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Actualización: Archaeologists discovered a meteorite fragment in a 9 thousand years old hut

salaman.es dijo...

Actualización: Mesolithic sanctuary reveals constellation riddle