Fontbrégoua cave
The Fontbrégoua Cave , south of Salernes , which was investigated from 1986 onwards , is a cave in Provence in France . It was made in the 5th and 4th millennium BC. Used by humans in the Neolithic Age .
When it was excavated, it contained a number of bones that came from domestic animals, wild animals and humans. The researchers, led by Paola Villa, reported finding conclusive evidence of cannibalism in the Stone Age. They found 6,000-year-old skeletons of six people. The bones examined with the most modern technology showed cutting traces, which in humans and animals indicated a uniform "slaughter or cutting technique". The excavators argued that this treatment of human remains was evidence of cannibalism. This conclusion was rejected by British Paul Bahn and Australian MP Pickering, who suggested that the evidence could be better explained by the use of limb cutting rituals in secondary burial .
See also
literature
- Jörg Orschiedt : Manipulation of human skeletal remains. Taphonomic processes, secondary burials or cannibalism? Urgeschichtliche Materialhefte 13, 1999, Tübingen.
- Paola Villa, Jean Courtin, Daniel Helmer, Pat Shipman, Claude Bouville, Eric Mahieu: Un cas de cannibalisme au Néolithique In: Gallia Préhistoire 1986 vol. 29-1 pp. 143–171
- Paola Villa, Daniel Helmer, Jean Courtin, Giorgio Belluomini, Sylvie Beyries, Marili Branca: Restes osseux et structures d'habitat en grottre: l'apport des remontages dans la Baume Fontbrégoua In: Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française 1985 p. 389– 421
- Paola Villa, Claude Bouville, Daniel Helmer, Jean Courtin, Eric Mahieu, Pat Shipman, Giorgio Belluomini, Sylvie Beyries, Marili Branca: Cannibalism in the Neolithic Science Vol. 233 1986 pp. 431-437
Web links
- Description and picture (French)
- Description and picture (French)
Coordinates: 43 ° 33 '0 " N , 6 ° 13' 59.9" E