The Upper Paleolithic triple burial of Dolní Věstonice: Pathology and funerary behavior

Abstract

This work focuses on paleopathological analysis of one of the skeletons from the Gravettian triple burial of Dolní Vestonice (Moravia) and addresses issues of Upper Paleolithic funerary behavior. The burial includes the well-preserved skeletons of three young individuals. The skeleton in the middle (DV 15) is pathological and very problematic to sex; the other two (DV 13 and DV 14) are males and lie in an unusual position. The young age, the possibility of a simultaneous interment, and the position of the three specimens have given rise to speculations about the symbolic significance of this spectacular and intriguing funerary pattern. The pathological condition of the skeleton in the middle further emphasizes its peculiarity. Main pathological changes of the DV 15 skeleton include: asymmetric shortening of the right femur and of left forearm bones, bowing of the right femur, right humerus, and left radius, elongation of fibulae, dysplasias of the vertebral column, and very marked enamel hypoplasias. Scrutiny of the medical literature suggests that the most likely etiology is chondrodysplasia calcificans punctata (CCP) complicated by trauma and early fractures of the upper limbs. CCP is a rare inherited disorder characterized by stippled ossification of the epiphyses. The cartilaginous stippling is a transient phenomenon that disappears during infancy, leaving permanent deformities on affected bones. Among the different forms of CCP, the X-linked dominant form is that resulting in asymmetric shortening and is lethal during early infancy in males. Thus, survival of DV 15 until young adult age would require the specimen to be a female. Clinical findings often associated with the disease (erythemas, ichthyosis, alopecia, cataracts, and joint contractures, among others) would emphasize the singular aspect of this individual, pointing to a condition that should be carefully taken into account when speculating on the significance of that peculiar burial.

A 12,000-year-old Shaman burial from the southern Levant (Israel)

“…The elaborate and invested grave at Hilazon Tachtit confirms the special status of the buried individual and her high standing within the community. Moreover, although pathologies are not universally characteristic of shamans, there are numerous cross-cultural accounts of physically disabled individuals being ascribed healing and spiritual powers (26,27). The goods accompanying the burial are also typical of shaman burials.…”

Complex Analysis of 700-Year-Old Skeletal Remains found in an Unusual Grave–Case Report

“…During this process, the central entity was the soul rather than the body. At the same time, the soul itself could often behave like a body, and vampires inhabited a curious space between the living and the dead [51][52][53][54][55][56][57][58][59][60][61].…”

“…The practice of burying the dead face down has occurred across time and societies, and the earliest known case of such a burial (26,000 years ago) was found in the Czech Republic [52]. Frequent and repeated discoveries of skeletal remains with evidence of antivampiric remedies indicate that the belief in vampires was widespread throughout the medieval Czech territory.…”

Gazing at Owls? Human-strigiform Interfaces and their Role in the Construction of Gravettian Lifeworlds in East-Central Europe

“…The latter, although controversial, might indicate practices of 'staining settlements in humans' -the working-in of human bone material into the very fabric of occupational areas. Burial practices in the Pavlovian of Southern Moravia were generally complex, as well as diversified, and include single (Svoboda 1987(Svoboda , 1991Oliva 2005) and triple inhumations (Klíma 1987;Formicola, Pontrandolfi, and Svoboda 2001). These burials are sometimes situated close to the centre of Pavlovian sites, but also occur in more peripheral locations (Pettitt 2011).…”