Comments on: Have Archaeologists Found Evidence of an Ancient Funeral Feast? http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/08/31/have-archaeologists-found-evidence-of-an-ancient-funeral-feast/ Mon, 22 Apr 2013 21:34:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Alice C. Linsley http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/08/31/have-archaeologists-found-evidence-of-an-ancient-funeral-feast/#comment-21782 Alice C. Linsley Sun, 21 Nov 2010 23:04:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=19547#comment-21782 The Natufians were East Africans and had priests, not shamans. The evidence at the site doesn't support the view that the woman was a shaman, only that she held a high rank in her community. See this: http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com/2010/11/kushite-expansion-and-natufians.html The Natufians were East Africans and had priests, not shamans. The evidence at the site doesn’t support the view that the woman was a shaman, only that she held a high rank in her community. See this: http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com/2010/11/kushite-expansion-and-natufians.html

]]> By: Kay http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/08/31/have-archaeologists-found-evidence-of-an-ancient-funeral-feast/#comment-21781 Kay Tue, 07 Sep 2010 07:42:57 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=19547#comment-21781 If the food remains were in the same place as the burial site, I wouldn't think they would just eat where they buried their ancestors on a regular basis. I would think that is was part of the ceremony. I doubt they would have the normal dining area in the same place as where they buried their people... but I guess there are those who might argue with that. :( If the food remains were in the same place as the burial site, I wouldn’t think they would just eat where they buried their ancestors on a regular basis. I would think that is was part of the ceremony. I doubt they would have the normal dining area in the same place as where they buried their people… but I guess there are those who might argue with that. :(

]]> By: PJD http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/08/31/have-archaeologists-found-evidence-of-an-ancient-funeral-feast/#comment-21780 PJD Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:48:32 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=19547#comment-21780 Good lord, what are future scientists going to make of our massive trash dumps? Imagine what kind of feast they might think one of those to be! Good lord, what are future scientists going to make of our massive trash dumps? Imagine what kind of feast they might think one of those to be!

]]> By: JC http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/08/31/have-archaeologists-found-evidence-of-an-ancient-funeral-feast/#comment-21779 JC Wed, 01 Sep 2010 00:40:58 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=19547#comment-21779 The picture looks like it could have been taken in northern Mexico where African grasses are invasive and prickly-pears (or nopales as we call them) are native. I wonder if I am looking at just the opposite invasive-native vegetation relationship here? I have to agree with Brian Too that scarcity of food would seem to increase the significance of sharing it as a large group but without further ceremonial evidence who knows? The picture looks like it could have been taken in northern Mexico where African grasses are invasive and prickly-pears (or nopales as we call them) are native. I wonder if I am looking at just the opposite invasive-native vegetation relationship here?
I have to agree with Brian Too that scarcity of food would seem to increase the significance of sharing it as a large group but without further ceremonial evidence who knows?

]]> By: Brian Too http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/08/31/have-archaeologists-found-evidence-of-an-ancient-funeral-feast/#comment-21778 Brian Too Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:37:20 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=19547#comment-21778 I'd argue with Kuijt's point. My parents host the odd neighborhood barbeque, and they always mean something. Even if the hosts decline to say so. In a modern urban setting, the BBQ can be used as as 'getting to know you' event. This allows subsequent interactions with less formality and distance. If you already know the invitees, the shared event reinforces existing social bonds. A BBQ invitation can also be used as a form of payment or completed social obligation. Perhaps as a reply to a previous meal at the neighbor's place. In social contexts as old as the Israeli site, there's a good possibility that food was scarcer than in a modern suburban setting. Any such scarcity would greatly increase the meaning and value of a shared feast. Plentiful meat would also up the prestige factor I would think. I’d argue with Kuijt’s point. My parents host the odd neighborhood barbeque, and they always mean something. Even if the hosts decline to say so.

In a modern urban setting, the BBQ can be used as as ‘getting to know you’ event. This allows subsequent interactions with less formality and distance. If you already know the invitees, the shared event reinforces existing social bonds.

A BBQ invitation can also be used as a form of payment or completed social obligation. Perhaps as a reply to a previous meal at the neighbor’s place.

In social contexts as old as the Israeli site, there’s a good possibility that food was scarcer than in a modern suburban setting. Any such scarcity would greatly increase the meaning and value of a shared feast. Plentiful meat would also up the prestige factor I would think.

]]> By: Rhacodactylus http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2010/08/31/have-archaeologists-found-evidence-of-an-ancient-funeral-feast/#comment-21777 Rhacodactylus Tue, 31 Aug 2010 16:02:18 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/?p=19547#comment-21777 I knew the urge to party was innate. I knew the urge to party was innate.

]]>