Researchers have unearthed the remains of two women and a newborn buried deep within Shaft No. 4—part of one of the largest prehistoric chert mining complexes in Europe. The burials, associated with the Late Lengyel culture (4340–4050 BCE), offer a rare and detailed window into the harsh realities and complex rituals of Neolithic society.

Hidden Beneath Centuries: A Ritual Mine Burial
Excavations at the site revealed the skeletons of two adult females and a full-term newborn. One of the most intriguing aspects of the find is the apparent ritual nature of the burial. The upper skeleton lay with a newborn placed gently on her chest, while a dog skull and additional bones were arranged nearby—elements suggesting symbolic significance rather than a standard interment.

Carbon dating confirmed the age of the remains, placing them squarely in the transitional period between the Neolithic and Eneolithic eras. Both women were short in stature (around 146–148 cm) and showed signs of childhood malnutrition. However, their adult skeletons revealed pronounced muscular attachments and vertebral damage—evidence of a physically demanding life.

Females in the Mines: Victims or Workers?
This discovery challenges long-held assumptions about gender roles in prehistoric mining. “Both women showed significant spinal stress, Schmorl’s nodes, and even spondylolysis,” said Dr. Zdeněk Tvrdý, lead anthropologist on the study. “These are consistent with carrying heavy loads, possibly while working in a forward-bent posture typical of mining.”

One of the skeletons (H2a) exhibited a poorly healed fracture in the ulna, forming a pseudoarthrosis—strongly suggesting the woman continued labor despite a significant injury. The researchers suggest these females were likely not passive ritual offerings, but active laborers in the mine, potentially forced into hard labor due to their physical frailty and social status.

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https://arkeonews.net/ancient-sister-miners-discovered-ritual-burial-reveals-hard-lives-of-prehistoric-women/