Archaeologists Solve Mystery Behind 2500-Year-Old Skull Fossils Found in Spain, They Belonged to Prisoners of War

For a long time archaeologists have been spotting human remains in the regions of Ullastret and Puig Castellar in Spain. But the reason behind these fossils has remained a mystery. There were speculations, but none of the theories had enough proof to back them up. A study focusing on these remains has recently been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports. The research sheds light on findings that possibly reveal the identity and reason behind the collection of remains at the two sites.

These remains were mostly in the form of human skulls. These skulls were observed to be severed, indicating a possible execution. Experts found these remains in both domestic and public contexts, which made it hard for them to attribute a reason for the suspected killings. Researchers selected seven 2,500-year-old skulls from both sites for their research. Investigation of sites and remains made the study claim that the skulls were nailed on walls for display.

Most of the remains, and all the skulls used in the study were of males. However, they were deposited in different manners at both the pre-Roman Iberian sites. "These severed heads reveal a homogeneous trend in terms of sex, as all are male; however, the mobility and depositional patterns suggest greater diversity, implying social or cultural differences among individuals from these two Iron Age communities," the researchers wrote.

In the past, experts thought these skulls belonged to respected community members, stated Smithsonian Magazine. This made researchers initially think that the display could have been a way of honoring those folks. However, a closer look made them change their assertion. Amongst the seven skulls, four belonged to individuals who did not appear to be local residents. This implied that they could not be esteemed members of the community. Researchers claimed that the skulls could have been of prisoners of war or enemies. During the sixth century B.C.E. there was more interaction between Iberian societies and Mediterranean civilizations, which could have led to violence and arrests from foreign populations. Hence it was quite plausible that the remains were a result of execution or battle.

Considering that these remains were located in areas that possibly received much public reception in ancient times, researchers think they were displayed to show the empire's prowess. "The individuals from Puig Castellar were all found in an area of great public exhibition, such as the settlement’s entrance gate," the study’s authors wrote. "We do not know if they were nailed to the wall or in some other area of the entrance, although the assumption that they were placed in the wall has led to interpreting these skulls as trophies of war."

Not all skulls though seemed to have the same identity, as per researchers. Of the three skulls that were collected from Ullastret, two were of locals. These two skulls were placed in domestic setups, which aligns with the previous belief that they were esteemed members and kept there as a way of honoring their contributions. "The exposed remains would be important inhabitants of the settlement," the researchers wrote, "possibly venerated or vindicated by society, perhaps associated with family groups or rival factions vying for power. In addition, the contexts in which these remains were found are interpreted as domestic units or dwellings." Researchers are hopeful that these findings will help them understand more about the practices of these societies.