Ancient pit reveals 6,000-year-old war trophies and public torture spectacles.
6,000-year-old pits in France reveal severed arms and brutalized skeletons, suggesting public torture spectacles to celebrate victories.
Why it matters
- Evidence of ancient warfare and post-battle rituals.
- Violence used as a social and psychological tool.
- Insights into Neolithic social structures and practices.
By the numbers
- 14 skeletons and several upper left limbs found.
- Dated to around 4300 to 4150 BCE.
- 82 humans analyzed, including victims and non-victims.
The big picture
- Ritualized killings as war propaganda or votive offerings.
- Victims likely captives from southern Alsace.
- Violence used for social unity and dominance assertion.
What they're saying
- Curiosity about the specifics of the findings, such as the exact definition of "upper arm".
Caveats
- Uncertainty about the specifics of the upper arm severed limbs.
- Study based on archaeological evidence and isotope analysis, which may have inherent uncertainties.
What’s next
- Further research on similar sites to understand the prevalence of such practices.
- More detailed analysis could reveal more about social structures and rituals of the time.