Dozens of 7,000-Year-Old Headless Skeletons Found in Slovakian Ditch
Archaeologists uncovered 78 headless skeletons in a Neolithic ditch at Vráble, Slovakia. The remains date to approximately 7,000 years ago and appear to have been placed deliberately rather than resulting from violence.
popularmechanics.comArchaeologists found 78 skeletons piled in a ditch at an excavation site in Vráble, Slovakia. All but one were missing their skulls. The discovery occurred during a long-running project that began in 2012. Researchers have mapped what they believe were once three neighborhoods containing roughly 300 houses from the Neolithic period.
The skeletons were positioned in random orientations on top of and beside one another. Researchers stated the bodies were interred shortly after death and that the heads were removed with skill rather than through violent decapitation. One child skeleton retained its skull. No other skulls were recovered from the ditch.
The project is supported by Germany's Kiel University.
A study detailing the findings was published in the journal Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society. Co-author Katharina Fuchs said the features show intentional manipulation of the bodies. Co-author Nils-Müller-Scheesel stated the deposition of bodies and body parts may have been part of recurring cultural practices.
Researchers said further study is needed to understand what happened to the missing heads and how the practice fit into Neolithic society.
