Monumental Nature and Natural Containers: Caves as Ideal Loci for Ritual Action

Summary

This is an abstract from the "SAA 2021: General Sessions" session, at the 86th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

The utilization of subterranean spaces by humans is cross-temporal and cross-regional. In turn, and sometimes simultaneously, caves have been employed around the world as seasonal or permanent shelters, storage rooms, workshops, burial chambers, and as containers for artistic and ritual actions. In southern France, these last endeavors have been the focus of research by generations of Paleolithic specialists. Thus, in this region best known for its parietal art, investigations have rarely centered around cave occupation during later Prehistory. Yet, caves were employed repeatedly well into the protohistoric and historic periods. This paper discusses the utilization of southern French caves during the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age and presents several examples of ritual deposition of artifacts. It is argued that, although unmarked and apparently hidden from view, caves were employed by some Iron Age communities as natural monuments and were a known and important part of their broader ritual landscape. The utilization of caves was not evidence of lasting “primitive” or alternate religions, and caves were instead a common choice for ritual deposition. They coexisted with larger built sanctuaries, not as competitive locations, but as complementary ones.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 86th Annual Meeting, Online (2021)   •
• SAA 2021: General Sessions

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 33448