Posted on 04/06/2021 6:48:27 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
In 2015, archaeologists discovered a single human cranium (a skull without a lower jaw) in a gypsum cave in Northern Italy called Marcel Loubens cave. Caves are known to have been used for funerary practices in ancient Italy, but the fact that there are no other human remains in this cave has raised questions about how this skull came to be there, inspiring the researchers in this study to conduct a detailed analysis on the bone.
The structure of the bone indicates that it belonged to a woman between 24 and 35 years old at death. Carbon dating places the remains between 3630-3380 BC, during the Eneolithic period. Several lesions on the bone appear to be damage caused during the removal of soft tissues after death as part of a funeral ritual, while other damage and encrusted sediment on the bone are evidence that it was moved by natural processes not long afterward.
With this evidence, the researchers reconstructed the journey of the skull. After being treated and laid to rest in a burial place, the skull of this corpse rolled away, most likely moved by water and mud down the slope of a sinkhole and into the cave. Later, continued sinkhole activity created the modern structure of the cave, with this bone still preserved within. Besides revealing this fascinating story, this specimen also likely represents evidence of funerary treatment of a corpse in Italy during this time period.
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Subtitled Rare evidence from Eneolithic cranium suggests funerary treatment of corpse
Ancient ISIS activity in the region?
Caveman party. Someone left their grog cup behind.
May have gone into the tamale pot.
https://www.dollartree.com/2-spooktacular-halloween-wreath-ideas/idea-20171002
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/1b/8a/d1/1b8ad1e48f8790fb10308a489c63c71e.jpg
And for dessert, lady fingers!
Possibly the game ball.
Sometimes it is hard to get a head in life or death. These guys lucked out.
However, the archaeologists (I used to be one and we have a good sense of humor) decided their dig needed a theme song so they came up with “I ain’t got no body”.
They named their team the “Kentucky Headhunters”.
Next: Their favorite snack - Finger Food.
It was in Italy, they enjoyed a hearty meal of spaghetti and Pete’s balls.
Much earlier, a Neandertal got stranded in a similar sinkhole, died there, and got buried in a stalagmite/stalactite.
https://www.google.com/search?q=Altamura+man
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