Baffled archaeologists find a woman buried next to her “husband” 1,000 years ago with the top of her skull missing, leading to speculation that her head was hollowed out
- The skeleton of a “wealthy” woman was found without facial bones
- German archaeologists are trying to find out how the couple died
- They were found in a former royal palace in the German state of Saxony
Archaeologists were puzzled when they discovered the skeleton of a woman buried next to her supposed husband… with the top of her head missing.
The female skeleton, standing just over 5 feet tall, was found lying on her back next to her husband’s skeleton, with her facial bones missing.
His slightly larger skeleton still had recognizable facial bones.
Archaeologists are still trying to figure out what exactly happened to the long-dead couple found in the former royal palace of Helfta in Eisleben, Saxony.
It is currently unknown whether they died together or separately, or why the woman’s facial bones are missing.
It is assumed that the two were wealthy personalities during their lifetime
The female skeleton, standing just over 5 feet tall, was found lying on her back next to her husband’s skeleton, with her facial bones missing
It is currently unknown how the couple died and why the woman’s facial bones are missing
The couple is believed to have been extremely wealthy during their lifetime.
Archaeologists told German newspaper Bild that it was likely the husband was a dignitary.
Among other things, they found a knife, a belt set and the fittings for a so-called official staff, such as those worn by generals. “This is considered the equipment of a dignitary,” said archaeologist Felix Biermann from the Saxony-Anhalt State Office for Monument Preservation and Archeology.
However, the scientific team said that, unusually, the woman was buried without any possessions.
Biermann said she may have consciously wished not to be buried with any of her possessions.
“The fact that there was nothing with her is very unusual.” Maybe she was already a Christian, but the man was even more traditional. In Christianity such additions were avoided.”
The couple’s bones will now be examined in a laboratory to find out how they died.
In 2020, German researchers found the 4,500-year-old remains of a woman buried in a simple but “lovingly” designed gravesite.
The discovery was made by Philipp Roskoschinski and a team of archaeologists from the company Archaeros during excavations in Uckermark, a rural county about 60 miles northeast of Berlin.
Although the burial site itself was modest, the woman’s posture and position suggest a possible connection to other ancient burial practices observed as far away as Scotland.