Journal of Archaeology in the Low Countries

Journal of Archaeology in the Low Countries 1-2 (November 2009)

Searching for patterns among special animal deposits in the Dutch river area during the Roman period

Maaike Groot

Keywords: Roman Period, Animal Deposits, Ritual, Dutch River Area, Recurring Patterns.

2 Archaeological background

3 The study of special animal deposits

4 Site background

5 What is ritual? Ritual in archaeology

6 Types of special animal deposits

7 Recognising patterns

7.1 Deposits in wells

Non-bone deposits

Deposits of (parts of) animals

7.2 Emphasising and manipulating (lower) limbs

7.3 Arranging skeletal elements within a deposit

7.4 Animal deposits in farmhouses and house ditches

7.5 Other deposits associated with houses

7.6 Burials and deposits in enclosure ditches

7.7 Combination of animal remains with other finds

Acknowledgements