Unearthing What Archaeologists Can and Cannot Know

Archaeologists study human and animal remains from hundreds or thousands of years ago to reconstruct past lives and deaths. They use tools like examining bone arrangement, wear patterns, and biomolecules (molecules derived from living organisms) to gather evidence. However, the past rarely provides clear answers, especially when questions involve motivations, beliefs, or identity. Even with advanced methods, archaeologists often face ambiguity in interpreting their findings. For example, when excavating a 1,000-year-old grave containing both human and dog remains, the bones suggest a shared burial but do not reveal the exact relationship between the two individuals or their beliefs about death. This uncertainty forces archaeologists to balance evidence with imagination, acknowledging that their interpretations may be influenced by their own worldviews.

Animals buried alongside humans are often interpreted based on modern assumptions about their roles in society. For instance, dogs in graves are frequently seen as pets, wild animals as ritual symbols, and horses as status symbols or tools. However, these interpretations may reflect a narrow, Western perspective that assumes transactional relationships between humans and animals. A notable example is a 1,000-year-old burial in Illinois, where a skeleton originally thought to be a puppy was later identified as a bobcat. The animal was adorned with shell beads and buried with care, suggesting it held significance beyond mere domestication. This challenges the idea that elaborate burials always indicate domesticated animals, highlighting the need to consider broader possibilities for animal-human relationships in the past.

Researchers are increasingly questioning traditional interpretations of animal burials by exploring relationships that defy familiar categories like pets or livestock. Projects such as the Palaeogenomics and Bio-Archaeology Research Network (PalaeoBARN) at Oxford University, led by Greger Larson, investigate how animals have lived alongside humans, including dogs, snakes, birds, and even pumas. This work aims to move beyond assumptions by examining cases like the Hopewell bobcat burial, where the animal's role in society was not straightforward. By reanalyzing such burials, researchers seek to uncover more nuanced understandings of how past societies viewed and interacted with animals, recognizing that their relationships were complex and multifaceted.

In the Baltic region (modern-day Estonia and Latvia), archaeologists have discovered Iron Age cemeteries from around 1,000 years ago where humans and dogs were buried together. These burials often show dogs placed fully intact, curled close to humans, or resting at their feet. To understand these relationships, researchers use multiple methods, including ancient DNA analysis to trace ancestry and migration patterns, chemical isotope analysis to study diet and mobility, and skeletal wear analysis to assess labor, injury, and aging. For example, isotope analysis can reveal whether dogs ate similar foods to humans, suggesting close cohabitation. While these methods provide valuable insights, they still leave room for interpretation, as the exact meaning of these burials—whether symbolic, spiritual, or companionship-based—remains open to debate.

Archaeology relies on scientific techniques to uncover the past, but interpretations of this evidence are not always fixed or objective. The field must navigate a balance between presenting scientific findings and acknowledging the ambiguity of their conclusions. Misrepresenting science as infallible can reinforce the idea that it delivers unquestionable truths, which is problematic in contexts where science is misused, such as in promoting scientific racism or justifying colonial narratives. Instead, archaeologists should embrace the dynamic and self-correcting nature of science, recognizing that interpretations are shaped by evidence, worldviews, and imagination. This approach fosters openness to multiple possibilities, such as viewing dog burials as status symbols, spiritual guardians, or lifelong companions, without claiming definitive answers.