Chain-wrapped skeletons, masks carved from the dreams of Alaskan shamans and sunken basalt cairns... these may sound like they were taken from an Indiana Jones film, but they've all been found by real-world archaeologists. Let's take a look at...
The Chain-Wrapped Bones of JerusalemIt must have been worrying for the archaeologists who uncovered a chain-wrapped skeleton near Jerusalem. Dating back to 1,500 years in the past, the bones were bound with metal chains... but researchers don't believe this was a criminal (or supernatural monster for that matter!) Instead, they suggested that the body was that of an extreme ascetic... and that the chains were a core part of their identity.
During that period of time, some deeply religious individuals chose to live lives of harsh physical suffering while dedicating their minds to the divine. One method embraced by these people was to live at the top of a pillar, preaching to passers-by and meditating. These "stylites" (meaning "pillar-dweller") could also wrap themselves in heavy chains, restricting their movements and keeping them focused on the spiritual rather than the physical.
Interestingly, the tooth enamel of this poorly preserved skeleton contained only AMELX amino acids (rather than being mixed with AMELY.) This would imply that the person lacked a Y chromosome, meaning that they were biologically female.
Further clay figurine fragments found nearby may have been able to interact with the intact examples. One of the smaller figures fits neatly inside a fragment that resembles a hollow belly - suggesting that it could be used to represent a birth.
Though you might have expected this collection of figures to be a part of an important individual's grave goods, no body was found nearby. Instead, researchers believe that they may have been used as puppets during the telling of stories!
The Basalt Cairn Beneath the Sea of GalileeBeneath the waters of the Sea of Galilee sits a massive cone of stone 10m in height and 70m wide - that's much larger than Stonehenge.
Though made of unhewn basalt, the structure was almost certainly man-made. Around 60,000 tons of rock in chunks of up to 1m wide are formed into a cairn - an oversized version of a common prehistoric structure. It's pretty ancient as well - some estimates put it at over 4,000 years old.
It's unknown what purpose the structure would have served. Though now sunk beneath the rising waters of the Galilee, thousands of years ago it would have stood proud on the land near the fortified town of "Bet Yerah" or "Khirbet Kerak." Perhaps it served as a monument, a temple or even as a demonstration of power and a warning to would-be invaders.
The masks were only intended for brief use. Celebrants would wear them during festivals or religious rituals to represent spirits, then the masks would be burnt or buried on the tundra. This means that evidence of their existence is rare - a circumstance made worse by the destructive actions of 18th century missionaries who considered them witchcraft. Despite this, a number of masks survived - several examples were subsequently collected and put on display throughout Europe and America by an American naturalist in the late 19th century!
The Cooked Body of TutankhamunTutankhamun is perhaps the iconic pharaoh. It's from Howard Carter's discovery of the boy-king and subsequent high mortality rate of his excavation team that we get the "curse of the mummy." That's not the only strange thing about the pharaoh though - for one thing, he was buried with a unique dagger. For another, his mummified body appears to have been cooked and is missing a heart.
Carter's excavation notes make mention of the body seeming to have been burnt - which raised questions in the mind of Dr Chris Naunton, director of the Egypt Exploration Society. He was able to enlist forensic archaeologist Dr Matthew Ponting and anthropologist Dr Robert Connolly... who had access to a piece of the mummy for study. The researchers determined via electron microscope and chemical tests that the flesh had indeed been burnt while sealed inside the sarcophagus - the question was how.
Researchers now suspect that a botched mummification was to blame, with a combination of linen, oxygen and embalming oils reacting to cook the body at over 200°C. They also suspect that the missing heart was actually destroyed during Tutankhamun's death. A technique called a "virtual autopsy" revealed a pattern of impact injuries down one side of the mummy. Car crash experts who studied these injuries suggest that they come from a chariot hitting the pharaoh while he was on his knees (perhaps having been thrown from his own chariot - the chariots found in his tomb suggest he was an avid charioteer) crushing his ribs, pelvis and heart.
As if to add to his own mystique, the pharaoh was buried with a rather unique dagger that sounds as though it belongs in a Conan novel - a dagger forged of meteoric iron. Not only is meteoric iron rare at the best of times, this dagger predates the Iron Age!
- The chain-wrapped bones of Jerusalem
- The ancient puppets of El Salvador
- The basalt cairn beneath the Sea of Galilee
- The dream-spun Yup'ik masks of Alaska
- The cooked body of Tutankhamun
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| Tutankhamun was buried with chariots and a meteoric iron dagger... but his body is a mystery in itself... (garten-gg) |
The Chain-Wrapped Bones of JerusalemIt must have been worrying for the archaeologists who uncovered a chain-wrapped skeleton near Jerusalem. Dating back to 1,500 years in the past, the bones were bound with metal chains... but researchers don't believe this was a criminal (or supernatural monster for that matter!) Instead, they suggested that the body was that of an extreme ascetic... and that the chains were a core part of their identity.
During that period of time, some deeply religious individuals chose to live lives of harsh physical suffering while dedicating their minds to the divine. One method embraced by these people was to live at the top of a pillar, preaching to passers-by and meditating. These "stylites" (meaning "pillar-dweller") could also wrap themselves in heavy chains, restricting their movements and keeping them focused on the spiritual rather than the physical.
Interestingly, the tooth enamel of this poorly preserved skeleton contained only AMELX amino acids (rather than being mixed with AMELY.) This would imply that the person lacked a Y chromosome, meaning that they were biologically female.
The Ancient Puppets of El Salvador
In 2022 researchers investigating a pyramid at San Isidro in El Salvador uncovered a set of figurines dating to 410–380 BC. These five clay humanoids ranged from 30cm to 10cm in height, with some of them featuring socketed heads allowing limited movement. Even more impressive, the faces of the figurines were designed to create optical illusions - when viewed from different angles, they seem either grinning, angry or scared.Further clay figurine fragments found nearby may have been able to interact with the intact examples. One of the smaller figures fits neatly inside a fragment that resembles a hollow belly - suggesting that it could be used to represent a birth.
Though you might have expected this collection of figures to be a part of an important individual's grave goods, no body was found nearby. Instead, researchers believe that they may have been used as puppets during the telling of stories!
 |
| A massive basalt cairn has been found beneath the Sea of Galilee... (ArvidO) |
The Basalt Cairn Beneath the Sea of GalileeBeneath the waters of the Sea of Galilee sits a massive cone of stone 10m in height and 70m wide - that's much larger than Stonehenge.
Though made of unhewn basalt, the structure was almost certainly man-made. Around 60,000 tons of rock in chunks of up to 1m wide are formed into a cairn - an oversized version of a common prehistoric structure. It's pretty ancient as well - some estimates put it at over 4,000 years old.
It's unknown what purpose the structure would have served. Though now sunk beneath the rising waters of the Galilee, thousands of years ago it would have stood proud on the land near the fortified town of "Bet Yerah" or "Khirbet Kerak." Perhaps it served as a monument, a temple or even as a demonstration of power and a warning to would-be invaders.
The Dream-Spun Yup'ik Masks of Alaska
The Yup'ik people moved into Alaska around 800 years ago, but these masks date back nearly 500 years. The designs (often resembling a distorted human face) are thought to have been taken from the dreams and visions of shamans, before being carved out of driftwood by artisans. Sometimes feathers, fur and plant material would be added, or the mask could be painted with natural pigments like white clay. The overall result is both human and inhuman... and somewhat unsettling as a result.The masks were only intended for brief use. Celebrants would wear them during festivals or religious rituals to represent spirits, then the masks would be burnt or buried on the tundra. This means that evidence of their existence is rare - a circumstance made worse by the destructive actions of 18th century missionaries who considered them witchcraft. Despite this, a number of masks survived - several examples were subsequently collected and put on display throughout Europe and America by an American naturalist in the late 19th century!
 |
| The Yup'ik people can still be found in Alaska... (Rod Long) |
The Cooked Body of TutankhamunTutankhamun is perhaps the iconic pharaoh. It's from Howard Carter's discovery of the boy-king and subsequent high mortality rate of his excavation team that we get the "curse of the mummy." That's not the only strange thing about the pharaoh though - for one thing, he was buried with a unique dagger. For another, his mummified body appears to have been cooked and is missing a heart.
Carter's excavation notes make mention of the body seeming to have been burnt - which raised questions in the mind of Dr Chris Naunton, director of the Egypt Exploration Society. He was able to enlist forensic archaeologist Dr Matthew Ponting and anthropologist Dr Robert Connolly... who had access to a piece of the mummy for study. The researchers determined via electron microscope and chemical tests that the flesh had indeed been burnt while sealed inside the sarcophagus - the question was how.
Researchers now suspect that a botched mummification was to blame, with a combination of linen, oxygen and embalming oils reacting to cook the body at over 200°C. They also suspect that the missing heart was actually destroyed during Tutankhamun's death. A technique called a "virtual autopsy" revealed a pattern of impact injuries down one side of the mummy. Car crash experts who studied these injuries suggest that they come from a chariot hitting the pharaoh while he was on his knees (perhaps having been thrown from his own chariot - the chariots found in his tomb suggest he was an avid charioteer) crushing his ribs, pelvis and heart.
As if to add to his own mystique, the pharaoh was buried with a rather unique dagger that sounds as though it belongs in a Conan novel - a dagger forged of meteoric iron. Not only is meteoric iron rare at the best of times, this dagger predates the Iron Age!
Thanks for reading - for more, try...
- 8 Bizarre Kinds of Mummification (Including Smoked, Soap & Self-Made!)
- Curses, Envy and Psychology: The Origins of the Evil Eye
- Orichalcum, Iron and Gold: Dig Into 9 Real "Magical" Metals