Tag

Burials

All articles tagged with #burials

Ancient Cambridge Pit Reveals Brutal Anglo-Saxon Violence
world23 days ago

Ancient Cambridge Pit Reveals Brutal Anglo-Saxon Violence

Archaeologists at Wandlebury near Cambridge uncovered a roughly 1,200-year-old pit containing multiple skeletons—some dismembered—with signs of violent death, including a face-down burial, beheading, and six skulls found atop the remains. No artefacts were recovered; researchers will study bones and teeth to date the remains and determine whether they’re Anglo-Saxon or Viking, as part of a broader Cambridge Archaeological Unit project into early medieval England violence and burial practices.

"Down Syndrome in Ancient Societies: Noble Burials and Genetic Signatures"
archaeology2 years ago

"Down Syndrome in Ancient Societies: Noble Burials and Genetic Signatures"

DNA analysis of ancient human remains dating back 5,000 years revealed six individuals with Down Syndrome, indicating that they were recognized and given noble burials in their respective communities. The research also uncovered an individual with Edwards Syndrome, a more severe genetic condition. The findings shed light on the care and appreciation these individuals received in ancient societies, providing insight into how ancient communities reacted to individuals with special needs.

Netherlands Unearths 4500-Year-Old Stonehenge Sanctuary.
archaeology2 years ago

Netherlands Unearths 4500-Year-Old Stonehenge Sanctuary.

Archaeologists in the Netherlands have discovered a 4,500-year-old sanctuary that was used for burials and rituals, and whose earthen mounds align with the sun on solstices and equinoxes. The largest of the three mounds holds the remains of men, women and many children who died between about 2500 B.C. and 1200 B.C. The sanctuary doesn't have stone boulders like Stonehenge, but it appears that the largest burial mound served as a calendar that helped people mark the sun's movements. The site is about 9.4 acres (3.8 hectares), larger than seven American football fields, and includes pits and the remains of poles and buckets that were involved in cleansing rituals.

Debating the Burial Practices of Ancient Human Relatives
science2 years ago

Debating the Burial Practices of Ancient Human Relatives

Researchers have discovered graves dug by Homo naledi, our ancient, small-brained relatives, more than 100,000 years before the oldest known human burials, a claim that would revise the story of our evolution. The findings, announced at the Richard Leakey Memorial Conference at Stony Brook University in New York and in three papers posted online, triggered fierce debate among experts not involved in the work. The dispute reflects how much is at stake for our understanding of ancient history and for the reporting of other potentially important discoveries.

Prehistoric Burial Practices of Mysterious Species Unearthed.
science2 years ago

Prehistoric Burial Practices of Mysterious Species Unearthed.

Researchers have discovered evidence that Homo naledi, a mysterious archaic human species, buried their dead and carved symbols on cave walls at least 100,000 years before modern humans. The revelations could change the understanding of human evolution, as such behaviors were previously only associated with larger-brained Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. The findings, detailed in three studies, suggest that Homo naledi was capable of engaging in meaningful behaviors, including the use of fire, and imply that larger brains can't be the only connection with complex behavior that researchers once assumed related only to humans.

From Convicts to Heroes: The Graveyard War and Prigozhin's Future.
world-news2 years ago

From Convicts to Heroes: The Graveyard War and Prigozhin's Future.

The return of convicts killed while fighting in Ukraine with the Wagner private military group is dividing Russian villages and pitting neighbors against each other. Some residents want to give the fighters a hero's burial, while others cannot forget the crimes they committed before being recruited. The tension between the jingoistic narrative of the war and the grim realities of coping with soldiers' deaths is an especially acute phenomenon in small villages. The move allowed the Kremlin to replenish its ranks and postpone a conscription of civilians until last September, but it also alienated some Russians.