An ancient population in northern Italy buried its dead beside dogs, horses, and other animals, new research reveals.
The joint burial of a person and a dog, from Seminario Vescovile in Italy. Photo by S.R. Thompson, courtesy of SABAP-VR Soprintendenza Archeologia, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per le Province di Verona, Rovigo e Vicenza ." Burials are shared, meaningful moments where a community can represent and reinforce what it finds important. And for the Cenomani people, an ancient people from northern Italy, animals were important.between the third and first centuries B.C.E.
According to the team, 16 of the 161 individuals buried in Seminario Vescovile were buried with animals or animal parts. And while 12 were interred with the remains of animals typically intended for consumption , four were interred with the remains of dogs or horses —Animals and animal parts have been buried beside humans throughout history, according to the authors of the article.
The burial of a part of an animal raised for the purpose of consumption is often interpreted as a sacrificial offering to the deceased, for instance. And the burial of a part of an animal raised for some other purpose is often interpreted in some other way, depending on the symbolism and the social role of the animal among the population that buried it. Also interpreted differently are the burials of whole animals, and of animals without human bones beside them.
According to the researchers, the fact that the interred individuals were not closely related to one another was crucial. This ruled out the possibility that the burials were the tradition of a certain clan or family. For instance, among the four individuals interred with dogs or horses — a baby buried with a whole dog, a man buried with a whole dog, a man buried with parts of a horse, and a woman buried with a whole horse, as well as parts of other horses and a dog — none were related.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Ancient Underwater Megastructure Not Created Naturally, Scientists SayScience and Technology News and Videos
Read more »
The Surprising Secrets of Ancient Egypt's Sacred, Mummified BaboonsWhy were baboons sacred to ancient Egyptians? Here's how religious and cultural beliefs likely inspired the mummification of these monkeys.
Read more »
Ancient Australian air-breathing fish from 380m years ago springs back to lifeThe rivers of Australia, which once flowed across its now dry interior, used to host a range of bizarre animals -- including a sleek predatory lobe-finned fish with large fangs and bony scales. The newly described fossil fish discovered in remote fossil fields west of Alice Springs has been named Harajicadectes zhumini by palaeontologists.
Read more »
Wild Animals Should Be Paid for the Benefits They Provide HumanityHealthy ecosystems in developing countries sequester carbon, regulate the weather, and help plants grow thousands of miles away. Wealthier countries benefit from these services—and so should pay for them to be maintained.
Read more »
The Challenges and Rewards of Ancient DNA ResearchThe study of human evolution wins a Nobel Prize, but the challenges of ancient DNA research are highlighted. Public interest and media attention sometimes steer the science, while the true value of answering scientific questions is overshadowed.
Read more »
These 6 Animals Live at the Highest Altitudes on the PlanetIt may not seem like mountains would host much wildlife, but in reality, various animals around the world test the limits of high-altitude living in these extreme environments.
Read more »