Mass cannibalism in the Linear Pottery Culture at Herxheim (Palatinate, Germany)
Abstract
The Early Neolithic central place at Herxheim is defined by a perimeter of elongated pits containing fragments of human bone, together with pottery imported from areas several hundred kilometres distant. This article offers a context for the centre, advancing strong evidence that the site was dedicated to ritual activities in which cannibalism played an important part.
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Six Early Bronze Age individuals (4600-4100 cal BP) showing signs of cannibalism were discovered at El Mirador cave in the early 2000s.
“Six Early Bronze Age individuals (4600–4100 cal BP) showing signs of cannibalism were discovered in the early 2000s.”
From Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain (2025) · cites this paper as [15]
Comparable interpretations have been proposed at Herxheim (Germany), where hundreds of human remains were deposited and processed, possibly during ritualised cannibalistic feasts.
“Comparable interpretations have been proposed at sites like Herxheim (Germany), where hundreds of human remains were deposited and processed, possibly during ritualised cannibalistic feasts15.”
From Evidence of neolithic cannibalism among farming communities at El Mirador cave, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain (2025) · cites this paper as [15]
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“Comparable interpretations have been proposed at sites like Herxheim (Germany), where hundreds of human remains were deposited and processed, possibly during ritualised cannibalistic feasts 15 .”
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- Authors
- Boulestin, B., Zeeb-Lanz, A., Jeunesse, C., Haack, F., Arbogast, R.-M., & Denaire, A.
- Affiliations
- Université de Bordeaux (FR)
- Archéologie et Histoire Ancienne : Méditerranée – Europe (FR)
- Generaldirektion Kulturelles Erbe Rheinland-Pfalz (DE)
- Venue
- Antiquity
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2009-12-01
- Volume
- 83
- Issue
- 322
- Pages
- 968-982
- ISSN
- 0003-598X (ISSN-L)
- 1745-1744
- OpenAlex
- W2113134677
- Semantic Scholar
- 375bca397e3805ca1d32726218215166b220560d
- Cited by
- 86
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 4 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 29.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Antiquity (publishedVersion)
- reroDoc Digital Library (submittedVersion)
- HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Archaeological and Geological Studies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Archeology › Ancient and Medieval Archaeology Studies
- Keywords
- Linear Pottery culture, Early Neolithic, ritual, human bone, imported ceramics, central places, Neolithic burials, Palatinate
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