Cekricek.id – Archaeologists uncover the surprising story of an ancient burial site in Cova dels Xaragalls, Spain, which has been a burial place for ancient humans for thousands of years. Located in the mountains about 90 kilometers southwest of Barcelona, this cave contains more than 7,000 bones dating from the Neolithic to the Bronze Age.
Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo, researcher from the Catalan Institute of Human Paleoecology and Social Evolution (IPHES) and the Merida Institute of Archaeology, was quoted livescience explains that Cova dels Xaragalls is a “collective burial place” that began to be used around 7,000 years ago.
In this period, bodies were buried in caves communally, a tradition that continued into the Bronze Age which ended around 3,000 years ago.
Analysis of grave goods buried with the bodies, such as ceramics, flint tools, and necklaces, reveals differences in social status.
In the late Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages, individuals of high status were buried alone in caves, while communal burials were still practiced for lower classes of society.
One of the most interesting finds was a Bronze Age skull that had holes resulting from trepanation, an ancient surgical procedure. Although it appears that this healing attempt was unsuccessful, it shows the advanced medical practices of the time.
However, recent research has revealed the possibility that Cova dels Xaragalls were used long before the Neolithic era.
Wild goat bones and charcoal were found that were more than 45,000 years old, at a time when the area was inhabited by Neanderthals.
“This opens up the possibility that Neanderthals also used the cave,” said Rodríguez-Hidalgo. “This is something that needs to be confirmed.”
Also read: Unexpected Traces of Ancient Human Artwork: Maybe They Were Smarter Than We Think
Although it is not clear whether this cave was used continuously or by different groups, this discovery provides new insight into the evolution of ancient human burial practices. With ancient DNA analysis, paleoanthropological studies, and further investigations, archaeologists hope to uncover more secrets of this ancient burial site.
2024-03-08 14:42:04
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