A child’s remains have been found 9,000 years after they died – and their bones suggest something unusual might have taken place.
The corpse seemed to have belonged to a youngster between the ages of eight and 10 and was found buried alongside two others.
Experts believe the child’s body had been “hidden” in the grave with various objects, including a flute.
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However, researchers also discovered the bones had “cut marks, scrape marks and chop marks” on the lower limbs.
According to the team of archaeologists, the marks were most likely a result of human activities involving the removal of flesh from the child’s body, as reported by Need To Know.
The researchers also noted that the child was suffering from a disease such as scurvy or malnutrition around the time of death.
They concluded that these burial practices may have been associated with the child’s disease.
“In this rare case, the unique treatment of the diseased child was subtle and hidden,” the authors wrote.
“The bones represent the first reported case of human modification on a child’s remains from a relatively early period of Neolithic China.
“Although we may never know the real intention behind the modifications, this child reveals a broader set of mortuary practices.”
The remains were discovered at an archaeological site known as Jiahu in northern China that dates back to around 7,000-5,000 B.C.
Over time, archaeologists have uncovered dozens of human burials at the site, as well as one of the world’s oldest fermented beverages and buried silk.
While the intentions of the bone modifications remain uncertain, it is clear that the burial treatment the child received was different to that of other children of the same age at the Jiahu site.
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