[SunkenCiv]

Photo: Ancient Mass Graves of Soldiers, Babies Found in Italy -- Archaeologists have uncovered thousands of graves holding the remains of fifth-century BC soldiers near the ancient Greek colony of Himera, in Italy. Also included in the burials were arrowheads, amphorae, and infants with baby bottles-like vessels. Researchers think the adult skeletons are from soldiers who died fighting the Carthaginians in a famous 480 BC battle described by Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus. [Photograph courtesy Stefano Vassallo/Archaeological Department of the Cultural Superintendence of Palermo]

[SunkenCiv]

· join list or digest · view topics · view or post blog · bookmark · post a topic ·
	Gods Graves Glyphs	Just adding to the catalog, not sending a general distribution. To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother, and Ernest_at_the_Beach
· Google · Archaeologica · ArchaeoBlog · Archaeology · Biblical Archaeology Society · · Discover · Nat Geographic · Texas AM Anthro News · Yahoo Anthro & Archaeo · · The Archaeology Channel · Excerpt, or Link only? · cgk's list of ping lists ·

[autumnraine]

Whoa! What a historical and anthropological find!

What I wouldn’t give to be there!

[kaehurowing]

Carthago delenda est.

[Little Bill]

If you compare these graves with those at Malmo, Sweden, they must be the winners.

[Sherman Logan]

He thinks the human remains are from soldiers who died fighting the Carthaginians in a famous 480 B.C. battle described by Greek historian Herodotus of Halicarnassus.

That's like saying a mass grave of Athenian soldiers must be from Marathon. The Himerans (?) doubtless fought dozens or hundreds of battles which might have led to these burials. So the archaeologist automatically assumes the burials are from the only that is famous.

In 409 B.C., Carthage waged a new war against Himera, conquered, and razed the town. "All the people were slaughtered or deported and the colony never rose again," Vassallo said.

I guess "deported" is sort of accurate. Losers at the time who weren't killed were generally enslaved and sold.

Infant mortality was very high at the times," Vassallo said.

True. Of course this was to a considerable extent because parents intentionally killed up to 50% of their children. But it's still infant mortality. All ancient peoples except the Hebrews practiced infanticide. Writers at the time commented on the really weird practices of the Jews, the prime example being that they raised all their children.

[GreyFriar]

dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones

[Towed_Jumper]

Great pic! If these had been dug up on Minnesota Al Franken would be counting their votes.