Thread by @AntiquityJ

NEW How did prehistoric people respond to natural disasters? New research suggests a volcanic eruption that blocked out the sun caused people in Neolithic Denmark to ritually sacrifice 'sun stones' to ensure a good harvest.

Strap in for a volcanic #AntiquityThread 1/14 🧵

Throughout history, volcanic eruptions have had serious consequences for human societies, such as cold weather, lack of sun, and low crop yields. In 43 BC, when a volcano in Alaska erupted, harvests failed in the countries around the Mediterranean, causing famine and disease 2/14

Climate scientists from the Niels Bohr Institute at @UCPH_Research analysed ice core drillings and can now document that a similar volcanic eruption took place around 2,900 BC. 3/14

@UCPH_Research This eruption must have had equally devastating consequences for the Neolithic peoples who lived in Northern Europe at the time, who were deeply dependent on agriculture. 4/14

@UCPH_Research This new insight into a Neolithic climate episode led archaeologists from the University of Copenhagen, @Nationalmuseet and the Museum of Bornholm to view their findings of so-called "sun stones" from the Neolithic Vasagård site on Bornholm in a new light. 5/14

@UCPH_Research @Nationalmuseet "The sun was the focal point for early agricultural cultures in Northern Europe", says co-author Dr Rune Iversen. "They depended on the sun to bring home the harvest. If the sun almost disappeared due to mist in the stratosphere, it would have been extremely frightening”. 6/14

@UCPH_Research @Nationalmuseet “One type of find that is completely unique to Bornholm is the so-called sun stones, which are flat shale pieces with engraved patterns and sun motifs", continues Dr Iversen. "They symbolised fertility and were probably sacrificed to ensure sun and growth." 7/14

@UCPH_Research @Nationalmuseet "Sun stones were found in large quantities at the Vasagård West site, where residents deposited them in ditches forming part of a causewayed enclosure together with the remains of ritual feasts in the form of animal bones, broken clay vessels, and flint objects ~2,900 BC.” 8/14

@UCPH_Research @Nationalmuseet Dr Iversen and his colleagues believe that there is a very high probability that there is a connection between the volcanic eruption, the subsequent climate changes and the discovery of the ritual sun stone sacrifices. 9/14

@UCPH_Research @Nationalmuseet “It is reasonable to believe that the Neolithic people on Bornholm wanted to protect themselves from further deterioration of the climate by sacrificing sun stones – or perhaps they wanted to show their gratitude that the sun had returned again.” 10/14

@UCPH_Research @Nationalmuseet During the same period, archaeologists can also document a shift in the traditions they had held on to for a long time. The so-called Funnel Beaker Culture, which had been dominant until about 5,000 years ago, was gradually disappearing. 11/14

@UCPH_Research @Nationalmuseet “After the sacrifice of the sun stones, the residents changed the structure of the site so that instead of sacrificial ditches it was provided with extensive rows of palisades and circular cult houses,” Dr Iversen concludes.12/14

@UCPH_Research @Nationalmuseet “We do not know why, but it is reasonable to believe that the dramatic climatic changes they had been exposed to would have played a role in some way.” 13/14

@UCPH_Research @Nationalmuseet Read the original research in Antiquity 🆓
Sun stones and the darkened sun: Neolithic miniature art from the island of Bornholm, Denmark - Rune Iversen et al. 14/14

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