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Gristhorpe Man: an Early Bronze Age log-coffin burial scientifically defined

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Nigel Melton ,
Janet Montgomery ,
Christopher J. Knüsel ,
Cathy Batt ,
Stuart Needham ,
Mike Parker Pearson ,
Alison Sheridan ,
Carl Heron ,
Tim Horsley  and
Armin Schmidt
...Show all authors
Nigel Melton*
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Janet Montgomery
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Christopher J. Knüsel
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Exeter, Laver Building, North Park Road, Exeter, Devon EX4 4QE, UK
Cathy Batt
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Stuart Needham
Affiliation:
Honorary Research Fellow, Archaeology & Numismatics, National Museum Wales, Cathays Park, Cardiff, UK
Mike Parker Pearson
Affiliation:
Department of Archaeology, University of Sheffield, Northgate House, West Street, Sheffield S1 4ET, UK
Alison Sheridan
Affiliation:
National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF, UK
Carl Heron
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Tim Horsley
Affiliation:
University of Michigan, Museum of Anthropology, 1109 Geddes Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1079, USA
Armin Schmidt
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Adrian Evans
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Elizabeth Carter
Affiliation:
Vibrational Spectroscopy Facility, School of Chemistry, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, NSW, Australia
Howell Edwards
Affiliation:
Centre for Astrobiology & Extremophile Research, Division of Chemical & Forensic Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Michael Hargreaves
Affiliation:
Centre for Astrobiology & Extremophile Research, Division of Chemical & Forensic Science, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Rob Janaway
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Niels Lynnerup
Affiliation:
Laboratory of Biological Anthropology, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
Peter Northover
Affiliation:
Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Begbroke Science Park, Sandy Lane, Yarnton, Oxford OX5 1PF, UK
Sonia O'Connor
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Alan Ogden
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Timothy Taylor
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Vaughan Wastling
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
Andrew Wilson
Affiliation:
Archaeological, Geographical and Environmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD7 1DP, UK
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Abstract

A log-coffin excavated in the early nineteenth century proved to be well enough preserved in the early twenty-first century for the full armoury of modern scientific investigation to give its occupants and contents new identity, new origins and a new date. In many ways the interpretation is much the same as before: a local big man buried looking out to sea. Modern analytical techniques can create a person more real, more human and more securely anchored in history. This research team shows how.

Keywords

GristhorpeEarly Bronze Agelog-coffin burialsélite statusradiocarbon datingstable isotopemetallurgy
Type
Method
Information
Antiquity , Volume 84 , Issue 325 , September 2010 , pp. 796 - 815
Copyright
Copyright © Antiquity Publications Ltd 2010

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