Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices

Recent archaeologists have unearthed many skeletons, mysterious tombs and rare artifacts left over from the Bronze Age and made new judgments about the early stages of human civilization.

Between 3100 and 2800 BC, in order to show off their power, the bronze rulers used dozens of young children and young people to make sacrifices.

Recently, at Başur Höyük , in the Upper Tigris region of southeast Turkey, Dr. Brenna Hasset from the National Museum of Natural History in London led a group of physical anthropologists to find a series of skeletons. left over more than 5,000 years ago by children who were only 11 years old.

Picture 1 of Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices
A series of mysterious tombs are found in Başur Höyük, Turkey.(Photo: DailyMail).

Using sacrifices is a common occurrence in the Bronze Age

With bone and age shape assessments, researchers have confirmed that this is certainly not a natural death, they have been treated very cruelly, sometimes being pierced through the skull.

Picture 2 of Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices
The archaeological site in Turkey's Başur Höyük region contains many young bones that were killed from the Bronze Age.(Photo: DailyMail)

One hypothesis is that, perhaps these children were killed as a way that the Bronze Age rulers demonstrated their strength, deterring people and clearly affirming the stratification of the commune. Assembly

Dr Hasset said: 'The remarkable thing here is the age, the number of children buried, and the great value of the buried objects'.

Picture 3 of Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices
Dozens of children were killed for sacrifices.(Photo: DailyMail).

Archaeologists initially discovered the bones of two children, buried in a coffin. Then at their feet, just outside the stone coffin were 8 skeletons of 8 other children.

According to Dr. Hasset's comments, these eight children are carefully and deliberately placed, surrounded by many valuable artifacts, to show the social status of the two children in the coffin. .

Picture 4 of Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices
They are buried with precious objects.(Photo: DailyMail).

However, the researchers were also unable to identify the cause of all the skeletal deaths found. But two of them were affirmed that they suffered severe injuries such as being stabbed deep into the bone.

Picture 5 of Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices
The tomb is built of stone, the skeletons are also neatly arranged with purpose.(Photo: DailyMail).

'The arrangement of these skeletons is also commensurate with the patterns engraved and recorded at other points in the region,' Professor Hasset said.

After studying carefully the remaining teeth, archaeologists have also determined that they have a life expectancy of about 4818 to 5118 years .

Başur Höyük is Mesopotamia - the cradle of human civilization

Başur Höyük, home to the Ur Royal Cemetery, is positioned as a bridge between the Bronze Age and Mesopotamia - now Iraq and part of Iran, Turkey, Syria, Kuwait.

Mesopotamia is the birthplace of the wheel, script writing, astronomy and agriculture, and is considered the cradle of Western civilization .

Picture 6 of Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices
Başur Höyük is said to be Mesopotamia - the cradle of human civilization.(Photo: DailyMail).

'According to previous records, the use of human sacrifices was thought to occur at the same time as the Royal Ur Cemetery, where hundreds of bodies were buried. But the recent excavation at Başur Höyük has pushed that time back about half a century and more than 800km to the north '.

Picture 7 of Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices
About 100 pointed copper spears are also found at the excavation site.(Photo: DailyMail).

Besides, Başur Höyük could also be the place where a custom was recorded in Mesopotamia, when the servants were killed as sacrifices. According to previous studies, during the burial process that took place in a royal manner, the guards, shifters, servants also committed suicide.

Although there were some views that they were poisoned, but from the evidence found in Ur Cemetery, the people in the palace were pierced through the skull by a sharp object, like a spear.

Picture 8 of Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices
The sign shows that the people in the palace were pierced through the skull by a sharp object, like a spear.(Photo: DailyMail).

Besides, Dr. Hasset and the archeology team also discovered more mysterious tombs in the area, typically a pit containing at least 50 people buried at the same time.

Picture 9 of Excavation of a series of killed children bones as sacrifices
Ur Royal Cemetery - where hundreds of people died.(Photo: DailyMail).

The new Art and Humanities Research Council project led by Dr. Dr Hassett has added an international research group including Professor Ian Bames and Professor Selina Brace from the Museum of Natural History; Dr. Suzanna Pilaar Birch is from the University of Georgia, Athens and Dr. Haluk Sağlamtimur from Ege University.

They will use modern molecular and biological archaeological techniques to study this mass grave, to learn about their influence on the birth of human civilization.

The latest findings have been published in Antiquity magazine on June 28.

Update 17 December 2018