Animal i dual?: det osteologiska materialets fördelning i pargroparna på tidigneolitiska Almhov, Skåne

The aim of this study is to understand the local phenomenom of pits in pairs on the Early Neolithic TRB gathering place of Almhov, Malmö, by studying the distribution of the osteological material in regard to species and body part frequencies. The results show that it is probable that at least two routines to place the animals in these pits were used. One method was to dig two pits, excluding animal bones from one of them. The other method was to deposit bones in both pits, but to exclude a certain species in one of them. These general patterns indicate special treatments of the most common animals during this period, namely cattle, red deer, pig and sheep/goat. The results show that deposits of animals were made according to cultural conventions. These deposits are viewed as a form of garbage management in terms of categorization of certain species and body parts, which in this case could reflect the social order. Ritualized handling of the bones has probably been a part of the deposition tradition on the site, as seen from the patterns of distribution of both species and body parts. Especially the skull was found in particular patterns; fragments of skulls were deposited exclusively independent of species. It was probably a powerful symbol for the people of Almhov