“Unlocking the Secrets of Iron Age Horrors: What Recent Discoveries About Severed Heads in Spain Reveal About Ancient Rituals”
Examining The Ancient Decapitated Skulls In Catalonia
In the sixth century B.C.E., Iberian societies began interacting more with other Mediterranean civilizations, leading to the establishment of new settlements along trade routes — and increased violence with outsiders.
Two of these settlements, Puig Castellar in Barcelona and Ullastret in Girona, have since revealed a macabre truth about the Iron Age people who lived there: They often nailed severed heads to walls for public display.
Rubén de la Fuente-Seoane et. al./Journal of Archaeological ScienceMaps of Ullastret and Puig Castellar.
Many scientists initially theorized that these skulls had belonged to respected community members and were put on display for veneration purposes. However, a recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science found that may not have always been the case.
Researchers recently took a closer look at seven skulls from Puig Castellar and Ullastret in an effort to find out more about the severed heads. They discovered that four of the skulls had belonged to people who did not live locally, suggesting they were war prisoners or defeated enemies — and their heads were displayed as a show of power, not respect.
Why Did Ancient Iberians Display Skulls?
To analyze the skulls from Puig Castellar and Ullastret, scientists conducted bioarchaeological analysis to determine their geographical origins. They also compared their findings with the isotopes of local plants and animals.
Of the four skulls from Puig Castellar that were studied, only one was from a local, while the other three belonged to foreigners. Because these severed heads were found in high-traffic areas, the research team theorized they belonged to enemies.
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