He was buried beneath a hearth, with a large stone pressed against his mouth and face, just one cm below the floor people walked on; researchers now suggest the 3,700-year-old burial was part of a magical ritual, not a punishment
- A man buried beneath a hearth in southeastern Spain nearly 3,700 years ago may have been subjected to a ritual intended to suppress supernatural forces rather than simply punish or humiliate him, according to a new archaeological study.
- The man’s face was positioned just one centimetre below the floor of a large hall, while a stone had been forced into his mouth and the lower part of his body lay beneath a hearth.
- Researchers believe the unusual arrangement may have been designed to symbolically overpower an enemy and prevent the return of forces associated with chaos.
Unverified
- A man buried beneath a hearth in southeastern Spain nearly 3,700 years ago may have been subjected to a ritual intended to suppress supernatural forces rather than simply punish or humiliate him, according to a new archaeological study.
- The man’s face was positioned just one centimetre below the floor of a large hall, while a stone had been forced into his mouth and the lower part of his body lay beneath a hearth.
- Researchers believe the unusual arrangement may have been designed to symbolically overpower an enemy and prevent the return of forces associated with chaos.
Sources: Times of India