-
Unusual Funeral Rites Discovered in an Early Bronze Age Mound in Azerbaijan
Five burials uncovered inside an Early Bronze Age mound in southern Azerbaijan show that the dead were laid to rest in markedly different ways. Archaeologists found one person tightly curled on the right side, another extended on the back, and fragmented human remains placed inside an upright ceramic vessel. The discoveries come from one of…
-
3,600-Year-Old Kurgan in Azerbaijan Reveals a Bronze Age Symbol of Power
Archaeologists excavating a 3,600-year-old kurgan in western Azerbaijan have uncovered a polished stone staff head that may once have served as an emblem of authority. A bronze dagger and finely worked arrowheads found in the same burial suggest that the person laid to rest there held an elevated military and social position. The burial, designated…
-
Archaeologists Find Blue Pigment on a 5,000-Year-Old Skeleton in Bulgaria
Archaeologists excavating a burial mound in northeastern Bulgaria have found traces of blue pigment on a skeleton dating back approximately 5,000 years. The central grave has been linked to the Yamnaya culture, whose funerary traditions are commonly associated with red ochre rather than blue coloring. The burial was uncovered inside the so-called Great Mound near…
-
5,000-Year-Old Yamnaya Graves in Romania Reveal an Unusual Skull Placement
More than 5,000 years ago, several people were buried beneath a mound in what is now eastern Romania. Archaeologists have now uncovered four Yamnaya graves, including a double burial, revealing traces of an elaborate funerary tradition involving red ochre, wooden beams, matting and fire. One burial contained an especially unusual detail. The skull was not…