Emily Behlert

Masterthesis

Title: Anthropological Examination of Human Remains from different Concentrations in the Ditches of the Early Neolithic Site of Herxheim

Burial rituals in the Neolithic period often involve intentionally modified bones, and the excavation site at Herxheim in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, is particularly noteworthy. The site consists of a Neolithic settlement surrounded by ditches and was subject to a rescue excavation from 1996 to 1999, followed by a research excavation from 2005 to 2008. Human and animal bones, pottery, stone tools, and other artefacts were discovered at the site, all heavily fragmented. The bones also exhibited cut marks, indicating modification, providing evidence of violent ritual practices. The victims were systematically dissected and defleshed. The bones were then crushed into small pieces and deposited together with shattered artefacts as so-called 'concentrations' in the ditches. Based on the pottery, the human remains and artefacts were dated to the last phase of the Linear Pottery period around 5000-4950 BC, describing the first sedentary farmers in Central Europe. So far, two-thirds of the site have been excavated and more than 500 individuals have been found, but an estimated over 1000 individuals can be expected based on an extrapolation of the entire area. The handling of human remains and artefacts on such a large scale as in Herxheim is without comparison. There are still unanswered questions about the events in Herxheim. It is important to investigate whether the concentrations are linked. Such studies have already been carried out on the pottery and have provided indications of the chronological backfilling processes, which play a crucial role in further interpretations. The human remains and their treatment have also been examined in some concentrations to gain further insight.

Nevertheless, there are still concentrations of interest due to their location on the site and the high abundance of human bones that have not yet been subjected to detailed analysis. This master's thesis aims to conduct an anthropological examination of such human skeletal remains found in two ditches of the research excavation and two pits of the rescue excavation, which have not yet been examined in detail. The skeletal material will be identified and analysed by collecting individual data on the biological characteristics of the individuals. Traces of modification, such as cut marks and intentional fragmentation, will be also identified and documented. It will then be checked if bone fragments and elements fit together within and between the concentrations. The minimum number of elements and individuals will also be determined. Comparing the concentrations of the ditches and pits can reveal information about any differential treatment of individuals in these areas. Knowledge about the individuals and connections between the concentrations is crucial for interpreting the events that occurred in Herxheim.