They were fearsome warriors who cutting off the heads of their enemies in addition to displayed them for all to see, bringing them dorsum from battle hanging just about their horses’ necks. But at i time inquiry has confirmed that the Gauls did non only sever the heads of their foes, they look to select embalmed them to boot.
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| Reenactment of the deposit of weapons in addition to cutting heads of the site of Cailar, inwards Gard, in addition to its impressive trophies [Credit: David Geoffroy (Court-Jus production)/ L. Pernet & R. Roure] |
“In fact the ancient texts told close us the caput [being] embalmed amongst cedar crude … thank y'all to our chemic analysis nosotros know that this information is right,” said Réjane Roure, co-author of the study from Paul Valéry University of Montpellier.
Previous finds at other sites select included a sculpture of a mounted warrior, non only amongst sword in addition to pike but a caput slung just about the cervix of the horse, spell the gruesome practise is also noted inwards a expose of ancient texts, in addition to supported yesteryear discoveries of human skulls amongst marks of decapitation, in addition to fifty-fifty nails within them. However, whether the Gauls did indeed embalm the severed heads was less clear.
Writing inwards the Journal of Archaeological Science, Roure in addition to colleagues push clit how they analysed human skulls institute amongst weapons inwards an expanse of Le Cailar where they would select been widely visible – suggesting they would select been on display. The squad took samples from 11 human skull fragments, noting many of the skulls showed cutting marks of decapitation in addition to signs that hint at the removal of the brain. They also tested 5 bones from animals institute inwards the same area.
The analysis revealed traces of a host of substances on the human fragments, including obese acids in addition to cholesterol, much of which the squad nation are characteristic of degraded human, works life or animate existence fats. The animate existence bones also showed traces of cholesterol.
However the squad institute that vi of the 11 human skull fragments bore traces of substances called diterpenoids – telltale signs that the bones had been inwards contact amongst conifer resin. Such traces were non institute on the animate existence bones.
The researchers nation the findings add together weight to ancient reports that, later severing the heads of their enemies, Celtic tribes embalmed them – pointing to ancient Greek writers Strabo in addition to Diodorus of Sicily who both tape that a Greek called Poseidonios claimed to select seen such sights inwards Gaul. While these texts banker's complaint that cedar crude was used, the squad nation it mightiness select been a resin amongst a like smell, every bit it is non clear if cedar trees were growing inwards the expanse inwards the tertiary century BC.
Roure said the move of the preservation mightiness select been to brand certain the aspect upward in addition to features of the enemy remained on show. “The ancient texts said only the most powerful enemies in addition to the most of import enemies were embalmed – peradventure that was to move able to nation ‘see that face, it was some big warrior’,” she said. She added the texts also said that the Gauls never gave dorsum such heads “even for an equal weight of gold”. “We retrieve that agency sometimes some people tried to purchase the heads,” said Roure.
The authors nation it is non clear precisely how the embalming procedure was carried out, but that the heads mightiness select been dipped inwards the resin, or it could select been poured over them, in addition to mightiness select been applied to a greater extent than than i time every bit fourth dimension went on. It is also unclear whether the procedure was also carried out on revered locals, or was reserved alone for enemies.
Dr Rachel Pope, an proficient inwards European prehistory at the University of Liverpool who was non involved inwards the study, said the inquiry was exciting.
“We knew from statues that the display of human heads was pop inwards Mediterranean French Republic – akin to a broader tradition at this fourth dimension involving the display of weapons. The bear witness now, from this site, is that human heads were indeed embalmed,” she said. “Now nosotros select the scientific discipline that supports before archaeology, every bit good every bit a greater agreement of where the classical texts in addition to the archeology meet.”
Author: Nicola Davis | Source: The Guardian [November 07, 2018]
Sumber http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com
Writing inwards the Journal of Archaeological Science, Roure in addition to colleagues push clit how they analysed human skulls institute amongst weapons inwards an expanse of Le Cailar where they would select been widely visible – suggesting they would select been on display. The squad took samples from 11 human skull fragments, noting many of the skulls showed cutting marks of decapitation in addition to signs that hint at the removal of the brain. They also tested 5 bones from animals institute inwards the same area.
The analysis revealed traces of a host of substances on the human fragments, including obese acids in addition to cholesterol, much of which the squad nation are characteristic of degraded human, works life or animate existence fats. The animate existence bones also showed traces of cholesterol.
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| Experts institute traces of conifer resins on ancient skulls at Le Cailar Fe historic current site inwards France, supporting texts maxim heads were embalmed [Credit: Salma Ghezal et al. 2018] |
The researchers nation the findings add together weight to ancient reports that, later severing the heads of their enemies, Celtic tribes embalmed them – pointing to ancient Greek writers Strabo in addition to Diodorus of Sicily who both tape that a Greek called Poseidonios claimed to select seen such sights inwards Gaul. While these texts banker's complaint that cedar crude was used, the squad nation it mightiness select been a resin amongst a like smell, every bit it is non clear if cedar trees were growing inwards the expanse inwards the tertiary century BC.
Roure said the move of the preservation mightiness select been to brand certain the aspect upward in addition to features of the enemy remained on show. “The ancient texts said only the most powerful enemies in addition to the most of import enemies were embalmed – peradventure that was to move able to nation ‘see that face, it was some big warrior’,” she said. She added the texts also said that the Gauls never gave dorsum such heads “even for an equal weight of gold”. “We retrieve that agency sometimes some people tried to purchase the heads,” said Roure.
The authors nation it is non clear precisely how the embalming procedure was carried out, but that the heads mightiness select been dipped inwards the resin, or it could select been poured over them, in addition to mightiness select been applied to a greater extent than than i time every bit fourth dimension went on. It is also unclear whether the procedure was also carried out on revered locals, or was reserved alone for enemies.
Dr Rachel Pope, an proficient inwards European prehistory at the University of Liverpool who was non involved inwards the study, said the inquiry was exciting.
“We knew from statues that the display of human heads was pop inwards Mediterranean French Republic – akin to a broader tradition at this fourth dimension involving the display of weapons. The bear witness now, from this site, is that human heads were indeed embalmed,” she said. “Now nosotros select the scientific discipline that supports before archaeology, every bit good every bit a greater agreement of where the classical texts in addition to the archeology meet.”
Author: Nicola Davis | Source: The Guardian [November 07, 2018]
Sumber http://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.com
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