Cap of bird’s skin

In this grave, which was excavated at a Stone Age settlement in Vedbæk North of Copenhagen, the archaeologists found the partial skeleton of a middle aged woman and a three-year-old child. On the woman’s chest lay a collection of small feet bones deriving from a roe deer skin that she probably used as a sling for carrying the child.

At the chest she also had two flat bone knives, which would have been used for skin preparation.

Furthermore, at the woman’s head was the beak of a grebe. Skin from sea birds is especially suited for lining winter garments and headgear. It is most probable that the beak derives from a cap of bird’s skin.

The grave is dated to approximately 5000 BC.