Archaeologists excavating a Roman-period cemetery in Poland unearthed the grave of a Stone Age man, dating back to approximately 2900 B.C. The unusual burial included two decapitated human heads, a necklace crafted from 42 mammal teeth, a battle ax, amber beads, and a flint blade.
The discovery occurred near Wrocław in southwest Poland, as the team was preparing to conclude their work. “We were practically packing up, and then we discovered a circular shape in the ground and began digging,” said Paweł Dąbrowski, a biological anthropologist at Wrocław Medical University, in a Sept. 2 translated statement. The team initially identified the grave’s age through the style of the serpentinite battle ax.
The necklace was constructed from precisely arranged teeth, each with a drilled hole at the root. Dąbrowski noted in a Sept. 4 translated statement that the teeth belonged to large mammals like wolves, deer, bears, and potentially humans. “The arrangement of the 42 teeth was precise,” he said, “and upon further inspection, it turned out that all of them had holes drilled through their roots. They must have formed a kind of necklace.”
Archaeologists speculate the man may have been a warrior, hunter, or leader due to the grave goods. Dąbrowski stated, “It’s possible we've discovered the grave of a warrior or hunter, but because of this necklace, we can assume it was someone important, for example, the leader of a family clan.” The two human skulls suggest possible ritualistic practices or offerings. Further analysis is needed to confirm whether the skulls were from individuals who were decapitated.
A similar elite burial was previously found nearby, containing axes, flint tools, and amber beads, along with the bones of a sacrificed calf. These two burials currently represent the only examples of their kind discovered to date.
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