Polish Archaeologist Unearths Europe's Most Ancient Graves

M & C Science And Nature ^ | 3-2-2006

[blam]

Polish archaeologist unearths Europe's most ancient graves

Mar 2, 2006, 14:15 GMT

Warsaw - Five of Europe's most ancient graves, dating back 10,000 years, have been unearthed in the village of Dwreca, central Poland.

Archaeologist Marian Marciniak found the graves on the site of ancient post-glacial dunes, the Rzeczpospolita daily reported. In them, a young woman, believed aged 18 to 21, was put to rest with a baby, a child aged 5 to 7 and another aged 7 to 11.

An adult male found at the site was buried sitting upright, as if on a throne or chair.

The bodies were dressed in animal skins decorated with the teeth of wild animals and wrapped in tree bark. The remains were then placed in tombs lined with pine logs, sprinkled with powdered red ochre to symbolise blood and burned.

The burnt-out graves where then likely covered to create small mounds.

'We've been digging for 9 years, but there are still unanswered questions,' Marciniak told Rzeczpospolita of puzzling half-circles made of small bonfires researchers found near the graves.

© 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

[SunkenCiv]

Or his twin sister, Kay Lmno. Jay altered the last name for show biz.

[SunkenCiv]

The use of red ochre in burials is known in various places all over the world (including the Americas); I agree, the idea that it symbolizes blood is merely supposition. :')

[Mike Darancette]

The ages make it unlike thet the woman is mother to all the 3 children. Maybe disease, warfare or sacrifice to travel with the dead male.

Ancient white people were really weird.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Blam.

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[Dustbunny]

Interesting

[Hegemony Cricket]

Lmno jokes!

Osar jokes!

[Pharmboy]

I'm a bit confused...haven't there been older burial sites found in Europe (Russian Neanderthal for one)? Or did they mean oldest Homo sapiens site?

[blam]

"I'm a bit confused...haven't there been older burial sites found in Europe (Russian Neanderthal for one)? Or did they mean oldest Homo sapiens site?"

They must be talking about planned/ritual burial as opposed to just finding human fossils.

[SunkenCiv]

:'D

[SunkenCiv]

The Neandertal burial was found in Asia. :')

[ValerieUSA]

Was it an intentional burial?

[SunkenCiv]

Been a while since I read about it, but yes, it seems like there were grave goods with the remains.

[Renfield]

How does one pronounce, "Rzeczpospolita"?

[SunkenCiv]

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