Latest news with #BellBeaker
The Independent
27-02-2025
- Science
- The Independent
‘Woodhenge' unearthed in Denmark likely linked to UK's Stonehenge
Archaeologists have found evidence of a 4,000-year-old wooden circular structure in Denmark that may have been linked to the UK's iconic Stonehenge. They uncovered ancient pieces of wood spaced about 30 metres apart in a circle in the Danish town of Aars. The structure was built around 2000BC, the researchers told AFP news agency. The 'once-in-a-lifetime' find 'points to a strong connection with the British henge world', Vesthimmerland Museum conservationist Sidsel Wahlin said. Such henges functioned as ritual centres for ancient communities in Europe that worshipped the sun and conducted rituals related to agriculture. They largely consist of a ring-shaped bank on the outside and a circular structure on the inside. Henges made either of giant stone slabs or wood have been discovered in Britain, Ireland, many parts of continental Europe, and even Russia. Some of the building material was brought from miles away. The Stonehenge in Salisbury Plain, UK, for instance, was built over months using rocks from all over the country in a project that united people. Recent studies of the iconic monument's central stone suggest that it most likely came from Scotland, challenging previous notions that most of its slabs came from Wales. The latest find in Denmark points to a shared belief system across Europe during this time 4,000 years ago, researchers said. Previous studies have shown that Europe underwent a substantial demographic change during this period. For instance, recent research suggests the Stonehenge was built to unify ancient Britons after a wave of migrants with ancestry in central Europe and the Steppes moved into the British Isles. Archaeologists suspect similar henge structures may have been built in other places to unite the early farming communities. At the Denmark site, researchers are now looking for other buried artefacts like flint arrowheads and daggers to better understand the people who built the 'woodhenge'. This could help understand the connection the ancient people of the region had with other Bell Beaker cultures across Europe.
Yahoo
05-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Archaeologists Discovered the Skeletal Remains of an Ancient Culture's Warriors
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A trio of graves were uncovered in Germany during a dig for a new power line The bodies' burial style, and the vessels buried with them, indicate that they were part of the 4,500 year old Bell Beaker culture One body was buried with a still-preserved stone armguard, while another had arrowheads and indications of a quiver, suggesting the buried had been archers in their lifetimes 'Speak! speak! thou fearful guest!/Who, with thy hollow breast/Still in rude armor drest,/Comest to daunt me!' So begins Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem 'The Skeleton in Armor,' inspired by an actual armor-adorned Viking skeleton uncovered in 1863. It's an evocative image, a soldier's skeleton still dressed for combat. It gives a greater meaning to 'They died with their boots on.' But these armor-adorned corpses can offer more than a chilling visage of wars long-forgotten. They can also offer crucial clues for archaeologists and researchers looking to better understand the past. That was the case recently when a remarkable discovery from the Copper Age was made during an otherwise routine dig for a new power line. As Arkeonews reported, the infrastructure project uncovered a ten-grave cemetery in Förderstedt, Germany, that dates back 4,500 years. Three of the burials have thus far been fully uncovered and found to be well preserved. 'A common burial mound covered all three deceased,' noted Susane Friederich, the project leader affiliated with the State Office for Heritage Preservation and Archaeology of Saxony-Anhalt. The manner in which those bodies were buried offered insight into the identities of the bodies, in a general sense. The bodies were all found in a hunched position, and facing the east, a practice common in a people known as Beaker, or Bell Beaker, culture. Bell Beaker culture gained its name from the type of container used to store food which was buried with the deceased 'for the journey to the afterlife,' a practice not dissimilar to the practice of placing resin or linen wrapped foods in tombs in Ancient Egypt. One such Bell Beaker, roughly 15 centimeters in diameter, was found in one of the uncovered graves, with food still inside. Within another, they found a piece of armor that indicated not only that the deceased had likely been a warrior, but precisely what had been his weapon of choice. A stone arm guard was found in the grave, measuring roughly eight by four centimeters. An arm guard is a protective piece commonly employed by archers to protect their bow arm, as the force of the bow string on upon release could otherwise injure an unprotected forearm. In the third uncovered grave, more evidence of archery was discovered. 'The third grave is remarkably well-preserved,' Friedrich notes. 'In the back area of a warrior, two arrowheads were found. They were very close together. Additionally, a quiver was faintly outlined in the sediment.' The quiver, used to hold additional arrows for an archer, did not survive the thousands of years of burial, as it was likely crafted from organic materials. 'Only a different color and structure in the sediment indicate that the deceased was buried with his equipment.' It should be noted, however, that while the presence of arrows and even armor can absolutely be seen as evidence that the deceased were warriors, it's also possible that such an archer could have also been employed as a hunter, using his weapon not for war, but to procure food. It's also possible both could be true. Further excavation and investigation could offer a clearer picture, and that's precisely what the team intends to do. Arkeonews reports that the plan now is to excavate the graves entirely and relocate them to a laboratory for a closer examination. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
