Call. Antropol.

23 (1999) 2: 437-450 UDC 572:902"634" Original scientific paper

Evidence of Genocide 7000 BP Neolithic Paradigm and Geo-climatic Reality

M. Teschler-Nicola-, F. Gerold!, M. Bujatti-Narbeshuber+, Ch. Latkoczy-, G. Stingeders and M. Watkins2
1 2

T. Prohaska",

Department of Archaeological Biology and Anthropology, Natural History Museum Vienna, Vienna, Austria Institute of Chemistry, University of Agricultural Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria

ABSTRACT The early Neolithic fortified settlement of Schletz, Lower Austria is emerging as one of the most interesting sites of Linear Pottery culture excavation in Austria. In the course of systematic investigations carried out since 1983, a plethora of unexpected results have been obtained. Specifically, the human skeletal remains of 67 individuals have been found at the base of an oval trench system. Without exception, these remains are characterized by multiple traumatic lesions as well as carnivore gnaw marks. Demographic analysis presents the picture of the entire population of this early farming settlement having been extinguished. Further, the findings suggest that a genocide scenario may have been responsible for the final demise of this settlement. The age and sex distribution reveals a lack of young females, who are interpreted as having beenabducted by aggressors. There is however no direct skeletal evidence of aggressors at the site; in fact, the uniformity of Strontium isotope ratios (HR-ICP-MS analysis) implies that all 67 individuals, who were left unburied for months, were indigenous. Supporting eoidence of increased levels of inter-human aggression - possibly caused by a broad wave of migration - comes from other contemporary end linear pottery sites in Germany. Such findings are here discussed in the context of a dramatic geological event in the region of the Black Sea shelf at this time (7.550 BP), which led to the submergence of some 100.000 square kilometers of fertile land, and which might have been responsible for subsequent gradual population movements into the interior of Europe.

Received for publication September 2, 1999.

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M. Teschler-Nicola et al.: Evidence of Genocide 7000 BP, ColI. Antropol. 23 (1999) 2: 437-450

Introduction The Neolithic period - and in particular, its first stage, the »old Neolithic« - is relatively well documented and hence, well understood+". Nonetheless, findings which date from this time continue to present us with a plethora of unexpected data. Although such findings are primarily relevant to archeologists, anthropologists would be advised to consider their relevance to their own field of investigation as well. The early Neolithic settlement of Schletz, in Lower Austria (about 50 km north of Viennaj'r" is emerging as one of the most interesting sites in Austria; the settlement is dated by 14C_AMS estimation to 5053-4797 (ETH-Ziirich 14373) and 5149-4939 BC (ETH-Ziirich 14374). Since 1983, the Niederiisterreichisches Landesmuseum has carried out extensive systematic excavations and archeological investigations of the fortified settlement and have obtained findings which serve to both enhance our knowledge of the material culture of the Early Neolithic Period, and to elucidate the social behavior and interactions of humans at this time. From the very beginning of the project at Schletz, archeologists found almost all skeletons at the base of an oval trench system serving the fortification. The skeletons were discovered in atypical postures (Figure 1), often in prone position, with randomly crossed limbs and unphysiologically curved trunks. Most of. the skeletons were incomplete; while the distal parts of the skeletons, especially the hands and feet, were often missing, the trunk, with ribs and vertebrae along with the pelvic bone, tended to be preserved. In some cases, though, only skulls, or fragments of skulls, have been discovered in an unclear, seemingly arbitrary, arrangement. As has been documented with respect to many ancient populations (e.g., Bronze 438

Age populationsv-P), burial rites may be considered to be culturally dependent and indicative of that particular culture's beliefs concerning the afterlife. The archeological record has shown that the practice of such rites was an extremely conservative and prominent feature of ancient cultures; any deviations from the norm therefore require carefully considered interpretation. In Schletz, the human remains that have been recovered are characterized by numerous near-death alterations. Such non-ritual changes suggest that established wisdom must be reviewed and that questions arising from the specific problems associated with the demise of this settlement must be formulated in a novel manner. Results and Discussion Demographic features Although only a rather small section of the entrenchment (approximately 1015%) has yet been excavated, to date, no regular graves have been found. The initial analysis, based on morphological or anatomical features, (e.g., the length or the robustness oflong bones and the form and extent of muscle insertions), demonstrated that at least 67 individuals must have been present (Table 1). In a second pass, the minimum number of individuals was determined (N = 33) by counting the extant skeletal parts. This second procedure was also a necessary prerequisite for the analysis of postmortem changes. The age at death distribution corresponds roughly to that known from large prehistoric (e.g., Bronze Age) grave fields-'. Of the 67 individuals, 38% are immature, 17% of them being children of the age group Infans I, 13% of the age group Infans II, and 8% of them juveniles. The very young skeletons included: one newborn; one aged 18 months; one

M. Teschler-Nicola et al.: Evidence of Genocide 7000 BP, Call. Antropol. 23 (1999) 2: 437-450
AGE AND SEX DISTRIBUTION TABLE 1 OF THE NEOLITHIC SKELETONS OF SCHLETZ (N=67)

N (total) Infans I Infans II Juvenis Adult Matur Total 12.5 8.5 5.5 22.5· 18 67

N(male)

N (female)

N (indet.)

17.2 12.7 8.2 33.6 26.9 100

2 16.5 9.5 28

2.9 24.6 14.2 41.8

5 8.5 15

7.5 12.7 22.4

1 3

1.5 4.5

between 1 and 1% years; one between 11/2 and 2 years; three between the ages of 3 and 4 years; and three between the ages of 4 and 5 years (Table 1). Of the grown ups, 26 were sexed as male, 13 as female, with only one indeterminate. (For methods used for sexing and aging, see Teschler-Nicola-P). However, whereas the sex ratio of older individuals was balanced (10 males to 9 females), the number of young females to young males is approximately three times lower (17 males to 5 females). Such an age and sex-distribution is noteworthy, especially when we consider the presence of a relatively large number of infants. (ChiSquare = 3.075, p = 0.07. During the 1997/1998 excavations, the skeletal remains of 30 more individuals were found; the Chi-Square-Test including these individuals is highly significantl'") A similar pattern of secondary female deficit has been encountered in the sex distribution of the Talheim skeletons-", which belong to the same Neolithic culture (linear band pottery). Anthropologists investigating the Talheim mass grave have explained the relatively low number of females there in terms of two factors: the enhanced biological vitality of mature females, and the high risks, and mortality rate, associated with pregnancy and childbirth. We, however, would forward a different hypothesis with respect to the sex distribution of the skeletal remains at Schletz. Specifically, we

would suggest that the deaths here took place in the context of aggression, as indicated by the traumatic lesions on the cranial remains (as will be discussed in the following chapter), and that the low number of young females present can be understood as the result of other young feales having been abducted by aggressors. The discovery of skeletal remains of very young immatures in the absence of putative mothers makes this assumption even more plausible. However, the end of the Linear Pottery with such Talheim and Schletz events indicates a much earlier shift to the (male) elite dominance" paradigm. Postmortem alterations of the skeletons In investigating the incompleteness of the recovered skeletal remains, archeologists were able exclude disturbance due to grave robbery or recent agricultural activity, such as plowing. In fact, due to their having been deeply embedded in loess, the remains were macroscopically very well preserved, so that the dismemberment and disarticulation of the skeletons, as well as the specific defects of certain parts of the skeletons could be ascribed to gnawing by animals. We in; terpret such gnaw marks as the consequences of the corpses having remained unburied for an extended period of time. Paleontologists, archeo-zoologists and archeologists have paid considerable at439

M. Teschler-Nicola et al.: Evidence of Genocide 7000 BP, ColI. Antropol. 23 (1999) 2: 437-450

Fig. 1. Photograph of the in situ situation of skeletons at the base of an oval trench system in atypical postures. Most of the individuals were partly preserved

tention to this phenomenon of postmortem artifacts produced by animal activityl6-19. In particular, Pucher-" presented a meticulous analysis of a partly preserved horse skeleton excavated from a Middle Bronze Age pit in Unterhautzenthal, Lower Austria. Both the locations of the gnaw marks and their shape and size correspond to those observed on the Neolithic human skeletal remains from Schletz, most conspicuously in the area of the ribs and pelvic bone (Figure 2), especially on the superior border of the ilium. Near the joints (e.g., the greater trochanter of the femur), large, deep, oval holes are surrounded by a crateriform crushing of the compact bone. The axes of these craters continue obliquely into the spongy substance of bone, and are almost parallel and only slightly offset. Summarizing the damage characteristics, Pucher 440

conjectured that the corpse of the horse had remained accessible to scavenging dogs or wolves for an extended period of time. We would also point out that the distal ends of the horse's extremities were missing - a condition remarkably similar to that of the Neolithic skeletons from Schletz. Figure 3 shows the skeletal elements recovered (ntotal)from Schletz and bones exhibiting animal artifacts (ngnaw marks). Cranial remains are less involved; there is only one maxillary part with minor damage due to animal activity. Most frequently, the distal parts of the upper and lower extremities (e.g., femur distal right: 11 of 19 bone elements; femur distal left: 11 of 24; and humerus distal left: 5 of 10) and the shoulder region (lateral part of the left clavicle: 8 of 12) including acromion process of the scapular spine

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et al.: Evidence of Genocide 7000 BP, ColI. Antropol. 23 (1999) 2: 437-450

Fig. 2. Skeletal remains of a horse (Early Bronze Age, Unterhautzenthal, Austria) with alterations caused by animal gnawing, a) iliac crest, pelvic bone, b) ribs

and the coracoid process as well as the pelvic bone (iliac crest) were affected. The extent of damage varies depending on the bone type (compact bone, cancellous bone) between slight furrows, scoring, punctures and pits, and irregular chewed and crushed jagged edges (Figure 4), often associated with splintering or spiral fracturing. In addition to the macromorphological analysis of the alterations we carried out microscopical examinations in a SEM (BSE-mode) using resin-embedded sections of different skeletal elements. One of them, a patellar bone, showing cortical impressions on the medial articular facet is presented in Figure 5: BSE-mode analysis shows the crateriforme impression of the cortical layer probably caused by the tips of teeth. The surface was not penetrated completely because of insufficient strenght of the bite, but the trabecular structures beneath have been compressed. According to Haynes21,22 the gnawing pattern resulting from tooth morphology, jaw mechanics, and tooth strength relative to bone strength is characteristic for some species. In the case of the Neolithic skeletons of Schletz, the features indicate gnawing by carnivores. Of interest in this context is that the degree of preservation of the skeletal re-

mains permits us to reach certain conclusions concerning the length of time the skeletons remained exposed. Haglund/" et al. found that »approximately 70% of all skeletal elements were recovered when the postmortem interval was 4 1/2 month or less. After six months there was a notable decrease in recovery of expected bones.. In the case ofthe Schletz skeletal remains, we cannot resolve the question through anthropological analysis alone; it will be necessary to include the archeological context as well. However, we can conclude at this stage of the investigation that the individuals whose remains have been found at Schletz must have remained exposed for quite some time after death, possibly for up to half a year. Traumatic lesions Forensic analysis up to this point demonstrates that all skulls and skull fragments (33) exhibit fractures which were undoubtedly lethal, though the victims might have survived for a few hours after sustaining the injuries. Since excavations are still ongoing, we will restrict this discussion to a summary of our current findings, with particular attention to a few exemplary cases. First of all, we have found numerous bending fractures24-27. Such fractures are 441

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et al.: Evidence of Genocide 7000 BP, Coll. Antropol. 23 (1999) 2: 437-450

Parietaleri ParietaleIe Occipitale Maxilla Mandibula ScapulaIe Frontalel~i~ii~i~iiii~~~ff~~~~~~~~~~~lllllll Scapulari Claviculale.~ Claviculari HumproxIe Humproxri costaej5e~555~~~c~ttrn HummidIe Hummidri~_ Humdistle~1"'" Humdistri RadproxIe Radproxri RadmidIe Radmidri RaddistIe •!lID Raddistri ~ UlndistIe Ulndistri ~
,

1m

mm

ntotal

o
15

nbitcmarks

a)
35

IO

individuals

20

25

30

Pelvis Ie

Pelvis

ri

Pem prx le
Fern prox r i

Fern midte

Fern nnd ri

Pem dist le

Femdistri

Ttb prox Ie

Tib prox ri

Tibmid

le

rib midri

Tih

disr

Ie

Tib dist ri

b)
10 individuals 15 20 25

Fig. 3. Skeletal elements distribution with bite marks from the Neolithic settlement Schletz, a) skull, shoulder girdle, ribs, and upper limb b) pelvis, and lower limb

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Fig. 4. Skeletal elements with features indicating gnawing by carnivores a) pelvic bone (indiv.nr.6) showing gnaw marks in the iliac crest, b) femur fragmentation caused by animal activities (indiv.nr.2), oval crateriform impression of the compact bone in the greater trochanter

characterized by round, sharp edges; the skull is spalled inwardly and radial cracks appear in a characteristic pattern over the entire skull surface (Figure 6). Single fractures and rare, multiple fractures common (Figure 7). As many skulls are fragmentary, only in exceptional cases could we rank the sequence of the inflicted fractures by using the rule of Puppe common to forensic practice - that rupture cracks of a later fracture terminate in the cracks of earlier fractures. However, even in the cases in which a weapon did not leave a unique, identifiable mark behind, rupture cracks or suture bursts could still be identified. Undoubtedly, this specific breakage pattern could be traced to injury inflicted by stump weapons or clubs.

Furthermore, indirect fractures were conspicuous; they were often found in large numbers at the base of the skull (e.g., above the external acoustical porous and the leading edge of the petrosal bone) and around the foramen magnum, where no direct application of force is possible. Such phenomena are called »ring fractures.: since they occur in a ring-like arrangement around the foramen magnum, often as a consequence of the compression of the skull in the direction of the vertebral column. As was to be expected, we also found many mandibular and maxillary as well as tooth fractures. Although, due to the fragmentary character of the facial remains, an unambiguous diagnosis of events leading to death is rarely possible, the weapons responsible for 443

M. Teschler-Nicola et al.: Evidence of Genocide 7000 BP, Coll. Antropol. 23 (1999) 2: 437-450

Fig. 5. Patellar bone showing animal tooth mark artifacts (indiv.nr.51), a) macroscopic view of the medial articular surface, b) BSE-mode (SEM) analysis of the tooth mark artefact

such traumata seem to have been axes, hatchets and clubs. In evaluating the data, we have attempted to classify the identified fractures in terms of their location in the different regions of the neuronal and facial skull (Table 2). Statistical analysis of all recovered skeletal remains shows that

the individuals sustained injury more often on the right side than the left. Assuming that most of the assailants were right-handed, this data would imply that the victims, including immatures, were typically attacked from behind, as they attempted to flee. Analysis of the skeletal remains in terms of such injuries does not reveal age- or sex-specific distri-

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Fig. 6. Photograph of the cranium of a male (lndiv.nr.3) with a small bending fracture in the right parietal bone and radiating rupture cracks, a) superior view, b) internal view

TABLE 2 FREQUENCIES OF THE IDENTIFIED FRACTURES IN TERMS OF THEIR LOCALISATION IN THE NEURONAL AND FACIAL SKULL

N Skull superior Skull lateral ri Skull lateral Ie Frontal bone Skull base Occipital region Maxilla Mandibula Teeth 14 34 32 23 15 20 8 18 8

N (injuries) 4 24 21
11

5 8 1 7 1

28.6 70.6 65.6 47.8 33.3 40.0 16.6 38.8 12.5

The pattern ofSchletz findings attains even more significance when considered in the broader context. For example, Barleben-" must be evaluated, as well as the contemporary end Linear Pottery mass grave of Talheim in western Germany. Here, 59% of the 34 individuals exhibit the same kind oflethal traumatic lesions, and as mentioned previously, a deficit of young females is also evident. Local marauders or foreign invaders? The fragmentary character of the skeletal remains excavated from the trench system area excludes the possibility of morphological trait similarity tests being used to distinguish inhabitants from assailants. Of particular interest here, however, is precisely the question of whether the assailants were regional marauders 445

bution, either in the frequency of severe trauma, or in their localization on the skull. On the other hand, fractures of the postcranial skeleton were extremely rare, with only one pelvic fracture detected.

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Fig. 7. Photograph of the cranium of an immature and female with multiple fractures, a) in the parietal bone (indiv.nr. 29), occipital view, b) in the parietal and frontal region (indio.nr.lil), lateral view

or foreign invaders. Elsewhere in Central Europe, other Neolithic sites from the Linear Pottery period (absolute 7000 BP) - sites such as Talheim, with its 34 vic446

tims - also seem to have disappeared as a result of violent attacks waged by people who could perhaps be called »invaders.. Identifying them as such is an extraordi-

M. Teschler-Nicola et al.: Evidence of Genocide 7000 BP, ColI. Antropol. 23 (1999) 2: 437-450

Fig. 8. Results of the HR-ICPMS analyses of Strontium isotope ratio measurements (Individuals 1-39 and AS = Schletz; ZW=Zwettl) ~

narily interesting challenge for both anthropologists and archeologists. One possible approach is the investigation of stable strontium isotope ratios in mineralized tissues29-31• Such ratios reflect the geology of the area in which the individuals lived. Strontium isotopes pass through the food chain without significant fractionation, so that the isotope ratio functions like a fingerprint, reflecting the characteristics of the local soils, the water catchment and the home range of the population. Soils and plants are in isotopic equilibrium with local rock and share similar isotope ratios. Dietary strontium is incorporated in tissues and stored for varying lengths of time, depending on its turnover rate. The isotope ratios for strontium are measured by means of a Finnigan MAT Element High-Resolution Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometer (HR-ICPMS). This application was recently introduced and offers significant advantages, mainly in terms of sample preparation and sample throughput, over commonly used analytical techniques32,33.

In Schletz, the results of such an analysis show similarities of strontium isotopes in the remains of the individuals recovered here. Human skeletal remains recovered some 100 km west, near Zwettl, Lower Austria, are clearly from a different population (Figure 8). Only a few individuals from Sshletz are add; however, these individuals were found in an incomparable context - e.g., the well of the settlment.

Conclusions The findings, as presented here, demonstrate that the individuals whose skeletal remains were recovered from AsparnJSchletz were victims of a violent attack. The specific in situ positioning of the bodies in the base of a trench system suggests that there were no survivors who could have buried the dead. The skeletal remains show animal gnawing marks (suggesting that the bodies remained unburied for up to six months). Further447

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more, it is quite likely that the settlement itself ended along with these inhabitants. The absence of different strontium isotope ratios implies that all skeletons were those of indigenous victims. The deficiency of young adult female skeletons may be due to the abduction of young women by the foreign attackers. There is evidence that in the final stage of the Linear Pottery period, fortifications were built34-36and aggressive interactions sustained, with increasing frequency. This can be attributed at least in part to the forced migration which resulted from the Holocene geo-climatic change which lead to a catastrophic submergence of one hundred thousand square kilometers of early Pontos-territory farmland 7.550 calendar year BP, as it was documented by recent geological core sample analysis which have been carried out by Ryan et aP7,38.In our scenario, the population waves did not move out from the Black Sea shelf without engendering aggressive inter-human conflicts. But in contrast to Ryan et al., for example, we do not suggest that the geo-climatic disaster

helped to spread farming. In fact, agriculture was already established in Central Europe, for example, in Brunn, Lower Austria (5.650 BC)39.However, the flooding could well have caused a slow migration to occur in waves, as groups moved gradually into central Europe-", But there are other concomitant points to be considered as well (e.g., changes of the social and political organisation, shortage of res sources) that might be responsible for the dramatic changes which occurred in the final stage of the linear pottery period. Indeed, anthropological evidence from different regions of Europe suggests that it was increasing levels of aggressive inter-human conflict which helped to bring Linear Band Pottery culture itself to an abrupt end. Acknowledgments Financial support was granted through the Austrian Science Fund (FW, P12840-CHEITP, GST, MT-N). We thank Josef Muhsil, Deptm. of Education and Public Relation, NHM, who helped to realize graphical works.

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NAGL, Archaologie Osterreichs, 7 (1996) 4. - 9. BERG, ST., R. ROLLE, SEEMANN, H.: Der Archaologe und der Tod. Archaologie und Gerichtsmedizin. (Verlag C. J. Bucher, Miinchen und Luzern, 1981). 10. NEUGEBAUER, J.-W., Romisch-Gerrnanische Forschungen, 49(1991) 1. - 11. TESCHLER-NICOLA, M., H. PROSSINGER, Anthropologie, 30 (1992) 67. - 12. TESCHLER-NICOLA, M.: Untersuchungen zur Bevolkerungsbiologie der Bronzezeit in Ostosterreich. (Habilitationsschrift, Universitat Wien, 1992). - 13. TESCHLER-NICOLA, M., The Early neolithic settlement of Schletz - Anthropological evidence for reconstructing the past. (Monographic presentation, in preparation). - 14. WAHL, J., H. G. KONIG, Fundberichte Baden-Wiirttemberg, 12 (1987) 65. - 15. RENFREW, C., Man, 27 (1992) 445. - 16. SUTCLIFF, A. J., Nature, 246 (1973) 428. 17. BROTHWELL, D. R., Journal of Archeological Science, 3 (1976) 179. - 18. HILL, A. P., Paleobiology, 5/3 (1979) 261. - 19. BINFORD, L.: Bones: An-

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cient men and modern myths. (Academic Press, New York, 1981). - 20. PUC HER, E., Ann. Naturhist. Mus. Wien, 93 (1992) 19. - 21. HAYNES, G., Arctic, 35/2 (1982) 226. - 22. HAYNES, G., American Antiquity, 48/1 (1983) 102. - 23. HAGLUND, W. D., D. T. REAY, D. R. SWINDLER, Journal of Forensic Sciences, 33/4 (1988) 985. - 24. HANSEN, G.: Gerichtliche Medizin. (VEB Georg Thieme, Liepzig, 1959). - 25. PROKOP, 0., W. GOHLER: Forensische Medizin. (VEB Verlag Volk und Gesundheit, Berlin, 1975). 26. MUELLER, B.: Gerichtliche Medizin (Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1975). - 27. MARESCH, W., H. MAUERER: Der Verkehrsunfall in gerichtsmedizinischer Sicht. (Leykarn Verlag, Graz, 1985). - 28. LIES, H., Ausgrabungen und Funde, 8 (1963) 9. -29. FAURE, G.: Principles of isotope geology. (John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1986). - 30. PRICE, T. D., G. GRUPE, P. SCHROTER, Applied Geochemistry, 9 (1994) 413. - 31. GRUPE, G., T. D. PRICE,P. SCHROTER, F. SOLLNER, C.M. JOHNSON, B. L. BEARD, Applied Geochemistry, 12 r (997) 517. - 32. LATKOCZY, CH., T. PROHASKA, G. STINGEDER, M. TESCHLER-NICOLA, Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry, 13 (1998) 561. 33. LATKOCZY, CH., T. PROHASKA, G. STINGEDER, M. TESCHLER-NICOLA, inductivly conped Plasma Sectorfield mass Spectrometry (ICP-SF MS) for Accurate and Precise Strontium Isotope Ratio Measurements in Prehistoric Human Bone Samples. In: HOLLAND. G., S.D. TANNER (Eds.): Plasma Source Mass Spectrometry. (Royal Society of Chemistry, 1999).- 34. KRAUSE, R., Vortrage 15. Niederbayerischer Archiiologentag, (1997) 89. - 35. KAUFMANN, D., Vortriige 15. Niederbayerischer Archaologentag (1997) 41. - 36. HAUSSER, A. (Ed.): Krieg oder Frieden? Herxheim vor 7000 Jahren. (Druckerei Odenwald, Bellheim, 1998). - 37. RYAN, W. B. F., W. C. PITMAN III, C. O. MAJOR, K. SHIMKUS, V. MOSKALENKO, G. A. JONES, P. DIMOTROV, N. GORUR, M. SAKIN(:, H. YDCE, Marine Geology, 138 (1997) 119. - 38. RYAN, W., W. PITMAN: Noah's flood. The new scientific discoveries about the event that changed history. (Simon & Schuster, New York, 1998). - 39. LENNEIS, E., P. STADLER, H. WINDL, Prehistoire Europeenne, 8 (1996) 97. - 40. SOKAL, R. R., N. L. ODEN, CH. WILSON, Nature, 351 (1991) 143.

M. Teschler-Nicola Department of Archaeological Biology and Anthropology, Natural History Museum Vienna, Burgring 7, A-1014 Vienna, Austria

DOKAZI ZA GENOCID 7000 GODINA PRo K. - NEOLITICKA PARADIGMA I GEOKLlMATSKA STVARNOST

SAZETAK Ranoneoliticko utvrdeno naselje Scheltz u Donjoj Austriji pokazalo se kao jedno od najzanimljivijih nalazista iz razdoblja line arne keramike iskopanih u Austriji. Za vrijeme sustavnih istrazivanja vodenih od 1983, godine, prikupljeno je obilje neocekivanih rezultata. Osobito su vazni ostaci ljudskih kostura 67 pojedinaca koji su nadeni na podrucju ovalne jame. Bez iznimke, nadene ostatke ohiljezavaju mnogostruke traumatske ozljede kao i tragovi glodanja mesozdera. Demografske analize pokazuju sliku cijele populacije ovog ranog zemljoradnickog naselja kojeje unisteno. Nalazi sugeriraju kako je genocid mozda odgovoran za konacni kraj ovog naselja. Struktura stanovnistva, po dobi i spolu, pokazuje manjak mladih zenskih osoba, sto mozemo protumaciti kao njihovo nasilno odvodenje od strane napadaca, Nema direktnih kosturnih ostataka koji bi potvrdili prisustvo napadaca na lokalitetu. Zapravo ujednacenost izotopa stroncija (HR-ICP-MS analize) ukazuje da je svih 67 pojedinaca, koji su ostavljeni nepokopani nekoliko mjeseci, pripadalo lokalnom stanovnistvu. Podrzavajuci dokazni materijal 0 povecanom stupanju meduljudske agresivnosti - mozda izazvano vanjskim valom migracije - dolazi i s ostalih lokaliteta line arne keramike u Njemackoj. 0 ta449

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kvim nalazima raspravlja se u kontekstu dramaticnih geoloskih dogadaja u podrueju Crnog mora, u razdoblju oko 7.550 pro K., koji su doveli do potapanja oko 100.000 km2 plodne zemlje i koji su mozda odgovorni i za kasnija postupna kretanja populacije prerna unutrasnjosti Europe.

450