1st February 2007, 06:06 PM
The depth of (403) is not stated. Therefore I am unsure if the cow skeleton can actually be interpreted as evidence of 'greedy bovines'. Surely to have drowned the cow would have had to actually fall into (403), and so possibly penetrate the upper horizon of the dark brown chocolate (404)? I respectfully suggest that the cow's location "above" the jam layer (403) does in fact support a ritual deposition - a more gentle process than falling into the pit.
Therefore the assertion that "a ritualistic interpretation can be ruled out" must be questioned.
Oral history and other evidence suggests in fact that the consumption of jam is actually accompanied by a series of intense rituals - although in the modern incarnation the sacrifice of cows has been sanitised to the consumption of hamburgers beforehand.
I can't wait for the open area excavation...
Therefore the assertion that "a ritualistic interpretation can be ruled out" must be questioned.
Oral history and other evidence suggests in fact that the consumption of jam is actually accompanied by a series of intense rituals - although in the modern incarnation the sacrifice of cows has been sanitised to the consumption of hamburgers beforehand.
I can't wait for the open area excavation...