4,000-year-old flowers found at Bronze Age dig

[Adsos Letter]

Source: BBC

Proof that pre-historic people placed bunches of flowers in the grave when they buried their dead has been found for the first time, experts have said.

Archaeologists have discovered a bunch of meadowsweet blossoms in a Bronze Age grave at Forteviot, south of Perth.

The find is reported in the journal "British Archaeology", out this week.

Pollen found in earlier digs had been thought to have come from honey, or the alcoholic drink mead but this find may finally rule that theory out.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/tayside_and_central/8412938.stm

[MissMarple]

1. Cool. Humans, don't you ever change.

;) Well, maybe enlightenment and a broad ranging developement of critical thinking skills...those would be good.

[Adsos Letter]

2. I suppose some might claim these had some cultic/ritualized significance

but I like to think they were indicative of a common human sense of loss for loved ones. :)

[MissMarple]

4. I think so, as well, Generally speaking, we are decent beings.

But, confusion abounds. :)

[malaise]

3. Very cool

I love your posts :hi:

[MissMarple]

5. Kick, because this is a quite centering post. It brings a measure of peace.

Thank you. :)

[G_j]

6. love

I'll guess, was the reason.

[Adsos Letter]

7. a single kick for the late night crew...and all the ships at sea.

:D

[roguevalley]

8. they have found pollen in neanderthal graves 100k in the past. Also

grave arrangements of things and red ocher. people have mourned their loved ones a long time. Thank you for this.

[Adsos Letter]

9. You're welcome. I generally find these stories especially beneficial

having spent almost 6 years studying History in college, I am often confronted with how different the thinking and experience of past peoples were from our own; this is especially true of a period as far distant as the Bronze Age.

I value being reminded that certain elements of the human experience still link us to our ancestors; it helps me relate at a more emotional level to people too often "academicized"* out of their humanity.

* I'm pretty sure this isn't an actual word... :D

[Mari333]

10. I have read that the red ochre

(I like to study mythology/archeology), was to signify putting the body back into mother earth (note the graves for the bodies, often mounds all over the world ), signifying blood, or putting the body back into the womb, a rebirth sort of symbolism.

I like that.

[Adsos Letter]

11. Interesting! I like being reminded of the emotional bond we share

with other peoples, of both time and place. I believe the world could benefit by more of it.