Fractured Human Bones From Neolithic Tombs in Spain Analyzed

VALLADOLID, SPAIN—A re-examination of 6,000-year-old human bones from more than two dozen men, women, and children recovered from two large Neolithic stone tombs known as Los Zumacales and La Cabaña has determined that many of the corpses had been defleshed and most of their bones had been fractured around the time of death, according to a Live Science report. It had been previously thought that the bones had been manipulated after some time had passed. In particular, arm bones were found to have “butterfly-shaped” fractures created by applying force perpendicularly to fresh bone. Impact marks indicate that they had been hit with percussive or banging force, while V-shaped cut marks on the bones may have been made by stone tools used to remove flesh. “It is difficult to interpret the motivation for these practices,” said archaeologist Angélica Santa-Cruz of the University of Valladolid. Manipulation of the corpses may have been intended to accelerate decomposition, while some of the bones may have been used as relics. The marks could also be signs of funerary cannibalism, she added. To read about the earliest evidence of Baltic amber in Iberia, go to "Around the World: Spain."