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A stockpile of at least 15 human skulls going back to the Neolithic period has been discovered at Masseria Candelaro, an ancient site in Puglia, Italy. The finding, published in the European Journal of Archaeology, has prompted concerns regarding ancient burial customs and rites. Radiocarbon dating reveals that the skulls belonged to people who lived between 5618 and 5335 B.C., with the majority of the bones coming from males.
The study appeared in the European Journal of Archaeology. According to reports, the skulls were discovered within a construction called "Structure Q," which was not a designated burial place but rather a subterranean feature housing both residential and ceremonial materials. According to Jess Thompson, an archaeologist at the University of Cambridge, who talked with Live Science, the skulls were recovered from earlier burials, treated extensively, and then put together. The bones revealed traces of wear, but no evidence of violence, eliminating out the possibility of enemy trophy heads.
Unusual Ritual Practices
Researchers think the fractured skulls were used in traditional ceremonies. It is thought that the bones were displayed or handled for symbolic purposes, but no concrete evidence, such as suspension changes, was discovered. Thompson observed that the importance of human bones seems to be related to their perceived power or efficacy in the society.
Not a typical burial site
The skulls were barely covered in earth, indicating that they had been abandoned rather than professionally buried. The act of depositing the remains in this setting is supposed to symbolize a type of "decommissioning" of the bones, changing them into "ex-ancestors." Thompson speculated that the last placing likely had a symbolic significance, representing the conclusion of their usage in ceremonies.
This discovery adds to the expanding body of evidence for intricate funeral rituals throughout the Neolithic period, shedding light on how early cultures interacted with their deceased. Further research may provide new insights into these historical practices.
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