In northeastern France, researchers discovered skeletal remains and severed arms dating back 6,000 years. These findings point to a history of violent rituals that celebrated victories in battle.
A new study suggests that the severed arms served as war trophies. The bodies were found mutilated, and archaeologist Teresa Fernández-Crespo reports that the injuries showed signs of torture. The victims’ limbs were broken to prevent escape, and some skeletons had holes that suggest they were displayed publicly after their deaths. This gruesome display seemed to unify the victors, cementing their strength against enemies.
The sites, Achenheim and Bergheim in Alsace, date back to the late Middle Neolithic (around 4300 to 4150 BCE). At that time, many groups clashed over territory, influenced by an increase of migrants and raiders. To understand the fighters’ backgrounds, scientists conducted a multi-isotope analysis on bones and teeth. This helped establish the origins and social status of both the victims and their captors.
Out of the 82 human remains studied, many of the severed arms belonged to nearby invaders, possibly taken by the locals as trophies. Remarkably, severed upper arms are less common in history compared to heads or hands. Researchers believe these trophies may have been preserved for display.
In contrast, the whole skeletons indicated captives from a different region. They were likely brought back, tortured, and executed. This ritualized violence may have served to honor fallen warriors while showcasing the conquerors’ power.
Interestingly, some experts suggest alternative views. Based on practices in Indigenous North American cultures, the captives might have been spared initially. Those who survived could have been integrated into local societies or kept as slaves.
Moreover, the violent acts may have had religious connotations—an offering to ancestors or deities for assistance during battles. These findings illustrate how violence was not merely about warfare but also about asserting dominance and creating collective memories.
Researcher Rick Schulting from Oxford emphasized that this study sheds light on a social practice deeply embedded in past societies—one that used violence as a form of spectacle.
Interestingly, this pattern of conquest and retribution is not new. Throughout history, groups often rise and fall, as the brutal victors may become victims themselves, leading to a continual cycle of conflict.
For further reading, check the research published in Science Advances.
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archaeological sites, Bergheim, war trophies, skeletal remains, Teresa Fernández-Crespo, researchers, Achenheim, public spectacle
