Archaeologists have investigated a Ukrainian site that might lend itself to a police procedural show — perhaps named CSI: Neanderthal.
The site near Kosenivka embodies mystery on many levels. Although an estimated 15,000 Neolithic people living in what is now Eastern Europe about 5,000 years ago, there are relatively few human remains. And when they have been found — like the 50 fragments in one house at the Kosenivka site — how the inhabitants died remains unknown.
Researchers have now presented a report that tries to solve the mystery of their demise, as well as shed some light on how they lived, in a PLOS ONE report.
Investigating a Neanderthal Mystery
The team focused on where the remains of at least seven Neanderthals were found. The remains of four were heavily burnt. However, they don’t know why. Was it arson? An accident? Or a form of ritual burial?
As the team of archeologists led by Johannes Müller at the Institute of Prehistoric and Protohistoric Archaeology, at Kiel University, Germany, took a closer look, the plot thickened. The skulls of two inhabitants showed signs of injury, hinting that violence may have been a factor in their demise. And radiocarbon dating indicated that one resident died about 100 years after the others.
A broader review of human bone from the area showed that residents were rarely cremated and were even less likely to be buried in their homes. By analyzing bone fragments from the house’s residence, they concluded that the inhabitants likely died of carbon monoxide poisoning and burned afterward.
“It must be assumed that the dwelling was burned by an accidental fire, which killed the people,” said the authors in the paper.
Read More: The Fascinating World of Neanderthal Diet, Language and Other Behaviors
Domestic Bliss?
Both bones and archeological evidence showed not just how these people died, but how they lived. The chemical contents of the bones indicated that meat made up only about 10 percent of their diet. Wear marks on teeth found in the village showed wear marks consistent with chewing on grains and plant fiber. Although they found some cattle bones, the researchers think the bovines provided more milk and manure than meat.
The layout of the house also provides more details of domesticity. They found what appears to be a kiln, as well as several tools likely used for cooking. The placement of these objects suggests that the residents used different parts of the dwelling for specialized tasks.
“We provide an exceptional insight into the lives — and perhaps also the deaths — of these people,” Katharina Fuchs, an archeologist from Kiel University in Germany and an author of the paper, said in a press release.
Read More: Ice Age Fashion: The Murky Origins of Neanderthal Clothing
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Before joining Discover Magazine, Paul Smaglik spent over 20 years as a science journalist, specializing in U.S. life science policy and global scientific career issues. He began his career in newspapers, but switched to scientific magazines. His work has appeared in publications including Science News, Science, Nature, and Scientific American.
