Neolithic people took gruesome trophies from invading tribes

Recent research published in Science Advances reveals shocking insights into the violent practices of a Neolithic community located in northeastern France. This study suggests that local inhabitants may have engaged in brutal confrontations with invading tribes, resulting in the severing of limbs from prisoners as gruesome trophies. Traditionally, interpretations of prehistoric violence have leaned toward the notion that such acts were either indiscriminate or motivated by practical needs. However, evidence from various archaeological sites indicates a complex landscape of collective violence in Neolithic Europe. For example, an analysis of human remains from El Mirador Cave in Spain has uncovered signs of cannibalism, likely stemming from violent clashes among competing herding communities around 5,700 years ago. Microscopic examinations revealed distinctive slice, scrape, and chop marks, alongside evidence of cremation and dismemberment, indicating these victims were not only killed but also consumed shortly after their deaths. The new study emphasizes that the Upper Rhine Valley, during the late Middle Neolithic, experienced significant cultural upheaval and armed conflict, particularly as groups from the Paris Basin began to infiltrate the region between 4295 and 4165 BCE. This period was marked by the construction of fortifications and the establishment of large settlements, with many skeletal remains exhibiting clear signs of violence. Archaeologist Teresa Fernandez-Crespo from Valladolid University in Spain, along with her colleagues, conducted a detailed examination of human bones retrieved from two circular pits at the Achenheim and Bergheim sites in Alsace. Their analysis found numerous remains with unhealed trauma, including skull fractures, excessive violent injuries (often referred to as overkill), and a concerning number of severed upper limbs. Interestingly, other skeletons discovered showed no signs of trauma and appeared to have received traditional burials, suggesting a stark contrast in the treatment of different individuals in this tumultuous time.