Trends in pig product processing at British Neolithic Grooved Ware sites traced through organic residues in potsherds

Analytical strategies for discriminating archeological fatty substances from animal origin

“…Neolithic economies of prehistoric Britain Mukherjee, Gibson, & Evershed, 2008). A total of 385 potsherds was selected, including 222 samples from 11 Grooved Ware settlements and 163 samples from 5 non-Grooved Ware sites Mukherjee, Gibson, & Evershed, 2008).…”

“…C values of C 16:0 and C 18:0 fatty acids extracted from the fats of modern animals raised on controlled C 3 diets showed that a clear distinction could be made between adipose fats of ruminant (cattle, sheep, and goat) and those of non-ruminant, that is, porcine animals (Evershed et al, 1997b;Dudd, Evershed, & Gibson, 1999;Mottram et al, 1999;Copley et al, 2003;Mukherjee et al, 2007;Mukherjee, Gibson, & Evershed, 2008). The graph plotting the d…”

“…The combined use of molecular and isotopic information has allowed the study of porcine exploitation in Great Britain during ancient times (Evershed et al, 1997b;Mukherjee et al, 2007;Mukherjee, Gibson, & Evershed, 2008), reconstruction of the history of dairy products and adipose ruminant fats during the Neolithic period from the Near East to western Europe Dudd, Evershed, & Gibson, 1999;Evershed et al, 2002;Copley et al, 2003Copley et al, , 2005aCraig et al, 2005a,b;Evershed et al, 2008b;Spangenberg et al, 2008), and investigation of marine lipids at Neolithic sites of northern Europe (Craig et al, 2007b) and in the southern hemisphere Hansel et al, 2004;Evershed et al, 2008a). Mixtures of several fats or of fats with other products have also been revealed Copley et al, 2005a,b,c,d;Mukherjee et al, 2007;Mukherjee, Gibson, & Evershed, 2008).…”

“…Mixtures of several fats or of fats with other products have also been revealed Copley et al, 2005a,b,c,d;Mukherjee et al, 2007;Mukherjee, Gibson, & Evershed, 2008). Additionally, questions related to pottery function have been addressed by establishing relationships between the nature of fats preserved and the types of vessel from which they derived (Evershed et al, 1997b;Mottram et al, 1999).…”

Neolithic pottery and the biomolecular archaeology of lipids

“…Site-to-site analysis of Grooved Ware sites showed that the processing and consumption of pig or pig products was more important at non-domestic, ceremonial sites than at domestic settlement sites. This may be due to 'the suitability of the pig to be raised and slaughtered for large-scale feasting events' at ceremonial sites or it could relate to a special significance of pigs to the Grooved Ware people', allowing them to be consumed only at certain places or by specific people (Mukherjee, Gibson and Evershed 2008) (Fig. 19).…”