Earliest known shaman grave site found: study[Israel]

Reuters ^ | 03 Nov 2008 | Reuters

[BGHater]

An ancient grave unearthed in modern-day Israel containing 50 tortoise shells, a human foot and body parts from numerous animals is likely one of the earliest known shaman burial sites, researchers said on Monday.

The 12,000-year-old grave dates back to the Natufian people who were the first society to adopt a sedentary lifestyle, Hebrew University of Jerusalem researcher Leore Grosman and colleagues said.

"The interment rituals and the method used to construct and seal the grave suggest this is the burial of an ancient shaman, one of the earliest known from the archaeological record," they wrote in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Shamans play an important role in many cultures, mediating between the human and spiritual worlds and acting as messengers, healers, magicians to serve the community, the researchers said.

The Israeli team found the bones in a small cave in the lower Galilee region of present-day Israel that was a Natufian burial ground for a least 28 people.

At the time of burial, more than 10 large stones were placed directly on the head, pelvis, and arms of the elderly woman whose body was laid on its side. The legs were spread apart and folded inward at the knee.

The special treatment of the body and use of stones to keep it in a certain position suggests the woman held a unique position in the community, likely some sort of a shaman, the researchers said.

"The burial of the woman...is unlike any burial found in the Natufian or the preceding Palaeolithic periods," Grosman's team wrote. "We argue that this burial is consistent with expectations for a shaman's grave."

[BGHater]

Non election Shaman ping.

[PeterFinn]

The 12,000-year-old grave dates back to the Natufian people who were the first society to adopt a sedentary lifestyle

Really? Have the found the remote and the sofa yet?

[nufsed]

Does this settle the “Who was there first” issue?

[UnbelievingScumOnTheOtherSide]

Shouldn’t that be shaperson?

[dblshot]

Shaman's Demand Separate State. Say they have been in the area now called Israel and Palestine longer than anyone else. Israeli labor party to endorse land for shamans. PLO spokesman declare intifada against all nonbelievers, declares suicide bombings to begin as soon as they can figure out what a shaman is. Secretary Rice to travel to proposed new country called Shama Land d’Lingo or land of shaman speakers. First sedentary society said to have ancient form of TV, forensic studies of 12,000 year old bones indicate diet high in corn chips and malted beverages. Tablets detailing relief from election postings believed to come from something called Freereublic.com. Studies to continue.

[SunkenCiv]

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