Dismembered bodies of women and children found at German 'Stonehenge'
Each year hundreds of thousands of people visit England’s ancient monument Stonehenge, a sanctuary of large stones arranged in a circle, built around 2500 B.C.
The "German Stonehenge" was a gathering place for community events and rituals, according to archaeologists -- including human sacrifices.
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Archaeologists work to help clear a longhouse beam from a Early Bronze Age settlement in Poemmelte, Germany [Credit: Klaus-Dietmar Gabbert/picture-alliance/dpa/AP] |
The fact that the remains of seven people were found alongside ritual paraphernalia suggests that they were part of ceremonial sacrifices.
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The Pömmelte enclosure likely had different zones, which were used for different activities [Credit: André Spatzier; Antiquity 2018] |
Archaeologists also found body parts like arms, legs and heads, Spatzier said. Most of the children and juveniles involved in what the researchers described as "deviant burials" were between the ages of 3 and 17. The skeleton of a woman around 40 years old was also found, Spatzier said.
The Poemmelte site is one of several circular henges found in central Europe, in countries such as Spain and Portugal.
The authors of the research said that Poemmelte is the first Central European monumental complex of "primarily sacred importance" to be excavated and studied in detail.
Author: Sarah Hucal | Source: ABC News Website [July 02, 2018]
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