Posted on 12/10/2010 9:16:05 PM PST by SunkenCiv
"This tomb of a man in his 30s from the early Chalcolithic period did not seem unusual at first glance. He was buried in accordance with the burial traditions of the period. ... On closer examination of the skeleton, we discovered a deep arrow wound in the bottom of his spine," paleoanthropologist Songül Alpaslan Roodenberg from the excavation team told the Anatolia news agency. "The arrow tip explained the cause of this Aktopraklik man's death almost precisely," she said...
Adding that it is very probable that the man died quickly due to excessive bleeding, the paleoanthropologist said: "it seems that he was injured not far from the village and was taken back to the village shortly after he died. Otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to be buried in the traditional fetal position. "Although it is hard to tell whether the man was a warrior, hunter or just a peasant, this finding will certainly attract attention in the near future," she added.
Roodenberg also noted that the tumulus, whose history stretches back to about 8,500 years ago, is one of the earliest farming villages. Nearly 60 tombs have been discovered during excavations at the ancient site, which were launched seven years ago with the support of the Bursa Metropolitan Municipality. The tombs are from the Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods.
"Rites for burying the dead give us clues about the belief systems of prehistoric people. Details including the shape of the tombs, the way the bodies are positioned or objects buried near the dead reveal much information," she added.
(Excerpt) Read more at todayszaman.com ...
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Arkancide?
Amazing to think that this is evidemce of a murder that took place 6,500 years before the birth of Christ.
OUCH
Since they made such a fuss over his burial, he probably was a leader, and died in battle. Or, as you said, murdered. Could have been a hunting accident. But regardless, it’s pretty amazing how well-preserved the remains are.
more from Anatolia:
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/catalhuyuk/index?tab=articles
http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/anatolia/index?tab=articles
;’)
Classification as murder is jumping to conclusions.
There could have been a war, it could have been self defense, it could have been accidental, it could have been an execution.
...According to the researches in 2005 it was found that Aktopraklik Mound was founded on 3 mound areas which are interrelated in terms of chronology and close to each other. The pre-analysis of the ceramics finds and building remains revealed in the area B display similarities with the period V settlement which is situated in the same region. This level was dated to 5500-5400 BC after the calibrated measurements results. Although the the settlement date in area A was not verified the similarities of the ceramic specimens found in the area B suggest a settlement that was dated to the Early Chalcolithic Age
AKTOPRAKLIK - IN THRACE - which constitutes a contact point between Anatolia and Southeastern Europe
Almost, but not quite?
His bow went off as he climbed a fence...Hunting accident!
Not impossible. Even if his remains had to be transported several day's distance back to his own village his corpse could have been put in the traditional position for burial before the journey.
It must have been interesting getting bodies into the fetal position after rigor mortis set in.
But...but....indigenous peoples all lived in perfect peace and harmony before the arrival of the Evil White Man. Right?
As posted above, he could have been positioned and then transported. They would have understood that process.
Even so it is interesting that so much can be learned about a time so long ago.
I want to be buried in the fetal position. I mean, after I’m dead.
“The arrow tip explained the cause of this Aktopraklik man’s death almost precisely,”
That, and the fact it looks like somebody smashed his head to pieces.
Dick Cheney's not that old.
I won’t even ask why.
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