Posted on 01/19/2019 3:07:07 AM PST by SunkenCiv
An archaeological dig in Suffolk, England has yielded up a Roman-era cemetery treasure: 52 beautifully preserved skeletons dating back to the 4th century.
And of those skeletons, many had been decapitated, their disembodied heads placed neatly at their sides or feet for burial, or buried without bodies altogether. Only 17 skeletons had been buried normally...
It's known that Great Whelnetham was a Roman settlement, starting around the mid- to late- first century CE, and occupied for nearly 2,000 years; but, because the ground is fine sand, it was expected that any skeletons would have long disintegrated.
So when the team started excavating skeletons, the remains of men, women and children of all ages, indicating that they had lived in the settlement, it was a surprise.
Generally speaking, the Romans buried their dead much like we do - laying on their backs, neatly arranged, often with significant items. But in every Roman cemetery, there can be found a number of what are called "deviant" burials that break from this norm.
What makes the Great Whelnetham cemetery so unusual is the number of deviant burials, Peachey told the BBC's Lesley Dolphin in an interview.
(Excerpt) Read more at sciencealert.com ...
Yeah! Christmas Tree angels? I think NOT!
I do think that the culture in those days, such that it was, would have numerous reasons for separating heads from bodies. Given the reasons for this are not obvious, mass beheading still comes as no surprise.
A cat was involved.
I'm surprised they don't teach it in *school*.
Well, ya got me there. :^)
It *could* be that there was some kind of fun scavenger hunt before the graveside committal service...
Maybe the heads were used for decoration at some sort of send-off ceremony. It is frustrating to know so little about our past. Finds like this one are very interesting, even if bewildering. Just when we think we understood the Romans...
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