Comment Post

Re: Stonehenge 'party village' Pig feasting ritual? by AngieLake on Monday, 01 August 2011

Further to the discovery here of remains of huge feasts of young pigs killed around Winter Solstice:

"Midwinter Pigs
by Iacob Stirbu, Indiana USA. [Archaeology Magazine. July/Aug.2011, p.11, 'Letters'.]

"The discovery of quantities of barbecued juvenile pig bones near Stonehenge reminds me of an old rural custom in Romania where I was born and lived most of my life: 'Ignatul porcilor'. It is a sort of ritual sacrifice of the pigs on Dec 20. The pigs are those born in spring, and most of the farmers buy one around Easter.
The name Ignat has something to do with Agni or Igni, because after the pig is killed it has to be cleaned through fire. It is burnt until all his hair is gone and the superficial layer of skin removed.
I also remember that my parents were looking to the shape of some organs to predict the year to come.
At the end of the day you have to give part of the meat as charity to people in need that live around you."
[End of quote].

I found the part about the augury from the entrails interesting. It sounded as if it might have been the sort of scenario enacted at Durrington Walls during the building of Stonehenge.

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