Excavation of a unique LBK mass burial in Vráble, SW-Slowakia and exploration of its social context
Final Report Abstract
This project served the further archaeological excavation and osteological and scientific evaluation of a mass deposition of headless individuals discovered in 2022 in the enclosure ditch of the Linear Pottery settlement of Vráble in southwestern Slovakia. This is a unique finding, but it fits into an interesting cultural-historical context of the late 6th millennium BC in Central Europe, in which the deposition of variously manipulated human bodies in such ditches is a well-known phenomenon; a phenomenon, however, that is difficult to interpret, a puzzle that the finding examined here might likely help solve. The limited frame of the funds made it necessary to concentrate on two main tasks. Firstly, the excavation of the as yet unexamined part of the mass deposit and secondly, an initial osteological characterization of the bone material. In addition, a series of further scientific analyses, such as aDNA and isotope analyses, were carried out. We were able to achieve those main objectives and determine the extent of the mass deposit as representing a minimum number of 54 individuals located at 20 meters along the course of the trench, with the main concentration of 50 individuals limited to 15m. Furthermore, our interdisciplinary analyses obtained first characteristics of the deposited population, such as that genetically they belong to the profiles of the early Neolithic of Central Europe, that only individuals over 12 years of age and preferably males had their heads removed. Furthermore, their dietary profiles vary distinctively. One group typical for LBK isotope signatures, to which other individuals from the site correspond, and another group that stood out due to increased δ¹⁵N values, indicating a higher consumption of animal proteins or manured cereals. Osteological features suggest that many individuals were pretty active runners. The identification of multiple cut marks on the upper vertebrae examined showed that the heads were separated from the bodies, probably shortly before or after death, using sharp objects (probably flint or obsidian blades) and then deposited in the ditch. Possible scenarios, such as a massacre or executions, are now extended by other plausible scenarios such as human sacrifice, head hunting and special funeral customs. Two likely lethal cranial trauma among the few individuals with heads indicate a violent scenario, at least secondarily. However, further in-depth investigations of the complete skeletal material are necessary in order to arrive at a truly reliable results and interpretation, which applies to all osteological findings.
Publications
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A new peculiar mass deposition of headless human bodies from the LBK settlement in Vráble, SW Slovakia. Eur. Archaeol. 78, 47–54.
Furholt, M., Cheben, I., Wunderlich, M., Bistakova, A., Fuchs, K., Hukelova, Z., Szilágyi, K. & Kühl, T.
