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Dozens of 7,000-year-old headless human skeletons discovered in ditch: "A terrifying sight at first glance"
Updated on: June 9, 2026 / 3:22 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- 78 ancient human skeletons were discovered in a ditch in Vráble, Slovakia.
- The skeletons date back approximately 7,000 years.
- Nearly all skeletons were found headless; only one child's skull was intact.
- Researchers believe the burials were deliberate, not due to a massacre.
- The findings may shed light on the social practices and cultural traditions of Neolithic farming communities.
- The site was investigated starting in 2012, focusing on the boom of pottery and agriculture during the Neolithic era.
- Skulls appear to have been skillfully removed after death, not violently decapitated.
- Interpreting these practices is challenging due to the different context of meaning compared to modern societies.