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Archiver > ORCADIA > 2003-12 > 1071535949


From: "Juliet Marillier" <>
Subject: Re: [<orcadia>]
Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 08:52:49 +0800


<Why would one in those days, when excavations and stonework involved so
much backache and sweat, would someone choose to bury their canine
comrades in a fashion that mimics an Egyptian royal?>

Interring the skulls of various animals most likely had a ritual
purpose. I realise these are Neolithic remains, but if you think forward
to the Picts, their symbol stones feature all manner of creatures along
with the more obscure symbols, in keeping with their close relationship
with the natural environment. And there's one theory that says the
Orcadian Picts were actually descended from the Neolithic inhabitants of
the islands. It's highly likely the Neolithic people of Orkney had a
faith and ritual observance closely tied the elements, the seasons,
heavenly phenomena etc, so a representative sample of animal skulls is
perhaps not so surprising.

Juliet


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