Skull Fragment and Scapula of a Woman Buried in Loch Borralie, UK
Credit: Rebecca Ellis-Haken
Recent findings reveal unusual scratches inside the skull of a woman buried in Scotland over 2,000 years ago. These markings suggest that brain removal may have been part of ancient funerary practices in Iron Age Britain.
The Iron Age in Britain, which spans from approximately 800 BC until the Roman invasion in 43 AD, remains largely enigmatic due to the scarcity of human remains from this period.
Evidence indicates that individuals from this era were often buried alongside maternal relatives, rather than their partners. Excavations at Suddern Farm and Danebury sites have shown that some bodies were exhumed after burial, while others remained exposed before interment. In certain cases, remains were processed before being reburied. Learn more about bone processing.
Laura Castells Navarro and her team from the University of York revisited bones from a low cairn at Loch Borralee, previously excavated in 2000. Their analysis revealed that the remains belonged to an adult woman and a teenage boy who died between 50 BC and 70 AD.
The researchers identified distinct striae and abrasions inside the woman’s skull, leading Castells-Navarro to hypothesize that these marks indicated intentional brain removal.
“The scratch marks are so uniform and regular that they likely weren’t created by natural means. It’s probable that a sharp tool was involved,” she stated.
“The consistency of these marks suggests an intentional manipulation,” commented Adele Bricking from the Museum of Wales, who was not part of the research. “If brain removal was part of the mummification process, it fits within broader ancient practices.”
However, Richard Maggwick, a professor at Cardiff University, expressed skepticism. “While the marks suggest skull manipulation, we cannot definitively link them to brain removal,” he noted.
The research team also observed that some long bones of the woman, including the femur, tapered towards their ends, indicating possible carving for tool use.
“It seems they took a long bone, fractured it, and then shaped it for use. The smoothness is striking,” said Castells-Navarro.
Conversely, Madgwick proposed that these bones may have been used based on pre-existing breaks, similar to how animal bones are used in crafting tools. “There’s likely a significant symbolic connotation tied to the human remains,” he asserted.
Despite the modifications, the woman’s bones were carefully reassembled and interred within a cairn. “This practice may indicate that the individual’s identity was preserved in some manner,” Madgwick suggested.
These revelations align with broader archaeological findings across the UK; postmortem bone alterations in mainland Europe have highlighted similar ritualistic practices, noted Andrew Lamb of the University of Edinburgh. “While I’m unaware of instances involving brain removal, southern France and Bulgaria have documented traditions of rondelle, where bones are cut and turned into amulets after death.”
Castells-Navarro emphasized that this research deepens our understanding of the relationships between the living and the dead during the Iron Age.
Brick proposed that as part of mourning customs, performing a ritual farewell may have been essential for appeasing the deceased’s spirit or taking a part of them home. “Death doesn’t signify a conclusion; remains are buried and later revisited as necessary,” she explained. “Excavating, processing, and ultimately placing remains in a designated space may represent a significant next step in the death process.”
The research team also analyzed DNA samples from the two individuals to establish familial connections. Results indicated they were likely second cousins on the maternal side, with connections to Iron Age populations from the Orkney Islands and Applecross.
This genetic evidence corresponds with archaeological discoveries hinting at prehistoric maritime communities throughout Iron Age Shetland, Orkney, and the Western Isles, noted Lamb.
He speculated that these communities utilized Irish-style wood-framed boats lined with animal skins, known as coracles: “Ideal for robust sailing, albeit not suited for larger vessels.”
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Source: www.newscientist.com