Buzz
Bones document history in their own distinct manner. Whether they fracture, appear in unexpected places, or unveil DNA, every part—from ribs to other fragments—holds a wealth of information.
In recent times, archaeologists have uncovered extraordinary rarities, some of which were seen for the first time. Some of the skeletons revealed the tragic fate of one of history’s most notorious doctors, an odd Roman settlement, and duels beneath a lake's surface. Individual bones also told tales from prehistory, tools crafted from human bones, and why ancient women may have outpaced today's elite rowers in strength.
10. The Sloth That Was Butchered
In 2000, a farmer stumbled upon bones at Campo Laborde, Argentina. These bones belonged to a now-extinct species of sloth, distinct from the modern version that spends its days hanging from branches. Megatherium americanum weighed over 4 tons and towered at 3 meters (10 feet) tall.
Archaeologists discovered evidence, including a butchering knife, indicating that the animal was hunted and butchered at the site. While it was long suspected that humans hunted giant sloths, Campo Laborde provided the first concrete proof of this.
The age of the sloth was also significant. It was part of a group of massive mammals known as megamammals. Approximately 12,000 years ago, about 90 percent of these creatures became extinct. This mass extinction event was truly global, affecting every continent except for Africa.
When early dating methods placed the sloth at 9,700 to 6,750 years old, it seemed that the species had survived the extinction event. However, in 2016 and 2017, the bones were re-dated using advanced techniques, revealing an age of 12,600 years. This new timeline indicated that sloths perished alongside many others, with humans playing a role in the extinction.
9. Epic Pig Roasts
In 2019, a study was released that examined pigs that didn't survive the barbecues. These pigs lived in Britain during the Stonehenge period (2800–2400 BC). Upon analyzing the bones, researchers discovered something surprising.
It’s well known that pork roasts were a part of ceremonial events around Stonehenge. Leftover remains from places such as Durrington Walls and Marden confirmed these grand feasts. However, this new study aimed to trace the origins of the pigs, which would offer insights into the people who owned them.
For years, it was believed that the pigs were locally sourced as piglets. The idea of driving pigs over long distances, as with cattle, seemed improbable. But when the roasted bones were studied, the results showed that most of the pigs were born in distant locations, including Scotland and Wales.
While the exact purpose of these barbecues remained uncertain, this discovery provided a significant clue. The feasts appeared to strengthen social connections across the island. Given the considerable effort required to move the pigs, researchers speculate that these gatherings—and the pork—held great importance to those who took part.
8. The Rib with a Spear
There is substantial evidence that humans consumed mammoth meat. However, there was no direct proof of hunting. Some curious theorists speculated that Ice Age tribes trapped these animals or drove them off cliffs. These scenarios made sense given that mammoths were far from being as small as sheep.
In 2002, researchers investigated a mammoth site in Krakow, Poland, which over the years had yielded about 110 mammoth remains. Among the 30,000 to 25,000-year-old bones was a rib with a flint fragment embedded in it. Though the finding was intriguing, it wasn’t properly analyzed until 2018, when it became the first piece of solid evidence that mammoths were hunted using weapons.
The flint was part of a light spear tip known as a javelin. Measuring 7 millimeters (0.3 in) in length, the depth of the flint indicated that the weapon had been hurled with tremendous force. However, this was not the fatal strike. Other hunters were likely involved, finishing the mammoth off with additional spears.
7. Unexpected Iberian Ancestry
The Iberian Peninsula served as a historical melting pot for what are now Spain and Portugal. In a recent study, scientists examined the bones of nearly 400 ancient Iberians, offering 8,000 years' worth of genetic data.
The aim was to trace when various cultures arrived and intermingled. This history proved to be more intricate than expected, with the most surprising discovery being a migration that occurred 4,500 years ago.
The genes these people brought were familiar. They originated from the steppes near the Caspian and Black Seas. This supports the old “Steppe Hypothesis,” which proposes that these populations spread across both Asia and Europe simultaneously.
The study of 400 skeletons revealed that steppe people—primarily men—had also made their way to the Iberian Peninsula. Their presence profoundly impacted the region’s genetic makeup. By 2000 BC, their male Y chromosome had almost completely replaced those of the native population. Moreover, they may have introduced bronze, as the Bronze Age began around 2500 BC when the first traces of steppe genes appeared in Iberians.
6. The Human Bone Tattoo Kit
Archaeologists don’t always recognize the significance of artifacts. This was true for ancient tattoo tools. It wasn’t until 2016 that several peculiar objects were identified as inking instruments. These included volcanic glass from the Solomon Islands, turkey bones from Tennessee, and cactus spines from Utah.
In 1963, a similar situation occurred. Four small combs were discovered on Tongatapu Island in Tonga. Their function was unclear at the time. The kit was stored at an Australian university but was presumed lost after a fire.
In 2008, the combs were rediscovered in pristine condition. Analysis revealed that two of them were made from seabird bones, while the remaining ones were crafted from human remains. The tests also dated the kit to be around 2,700 years old, making it one of the oldest known in the world.
There’s strong evidence to suggest that these combs served as tattooing “needles.” When Captain James Cook described tattooing in 18th-century Tonga, he mentioned a similar bone tool used to insert color beneath the skin.
5. The Deviant Cemetery
Roman burials typically involved placing the deceased on their backs with their bodies carefully arranged, and valuable items were often buried alongside them. However, in some cases, burials deviated from this norm. These unconventional graves are called “deviant” graves. In every third or fourth Roman cemetery, you might stumble upon one such deviation.
In 2019, archaeologists began excavations in an area in Suffolk, England, that was set for construction. Great Whelnetham was once a Roman settlement, but it was long believed that the area's sandy soil couldn't preserve human remains.
To their amazement, they uncovered a perfectly preserved fourth-century graveyard. What made the discovery even more shocking was the high number of deviant burials—35 out of 52. Among the remains were men, women, and children, all decapitated. In some cases, the heads were missing entirely, while others were found next to or at the feet of the bodies.
Because the skulls were removed cleanly after death, archaeologists believe these individuals were not executed. Instead, it seems the local community had specific reasons for burying their loved ones in a way that deviated from Roman burial customs. The exact reasons for these unusual practices remain a mystery.
4. The Unlaid Egg
In 2018, paleontologists studied a fossil of a newly discovered bird species, Avimaia schweitzerae, found in northwest China a few years prior. The bird lived approximately 115 million years ago.
In a groundbreaking discovery, the bird was found to be pregnant with an egg. Some areas of the shell had up to six layers, which could explain the bird's death. In modern birds, trauma can cause a female to hold onto her egg, causing a condition known as 'egg binding' that wraps excess layers of shell around the embryo, suffocating it and often killing the mother.
Not only was this a rare case of finding a reproductive disorder in a fossil, but the skeleton also possibly contained medullary bone—an important discovery for scientists studying bird pregnancy and bone structure.
Medullary bone is crucial when a bird prepares to lay eggs, as it stores calcium. This had never been definitively identified in a fossil bird, but the medullary region of Avimaia showed promising signs. If confirmed, it could establish a significant link between bird reproduction and this bone structure.
3. Mengele’s Skeleton
After World War II, Josef Mengele became a symbol of the atrocities of Auschwitz. As a Nazi doctor, his insatiable thirst for knowledge led him to conduct horrific experiments on prisoners. Mengele's mass killings earned him the title 'Angel of Death.' Despite becoming a fugitive, he evaded capture for nearly 40 years.
In 1979, Mengele passed away in Brazil. His remains were exhumed in 1985, and DNA testing in 1992 confirmed his identity. However, his family refused to repatriate the body, and his bones were kept at the Legal Medical Institute in Sao Paulo.
Pathologist Daniel Munoz, a lecturer at the University of Sao Paulo's medical school, was among those who helped identify Mengele's body. He later recognized that the skeleton could serve as a teaching tool.
In an ironic twist, Mengele's remains became an educational resource for those seeking medical knowledge. His skeleton is now used in classrooms to teach students how to match forensic details on bones with historical records.
2. Fish That Hunted Pterosaurs
Pterosaurs, flying reptiles that reigned as the top aerial predators during the age of dinosaurs, have long been known for their dominance in the skies. However, in 2012, scientists uncovered an extraordinary instance of pterosaur predation. A lake once existed in Bavaria where smaller fish lured in pterosaurs, and the flying reptiles, in turn, attracted even larger fish.
Upon examining the site, researchers discovered five pterosaurs that had drowned, all approximately 120 million years old. These creatures, members of the species Rhamphorhychus, each had a wing caught in the mouth of a sizable fish. The fish were all of the same species: an armored fish called Aspidorhynchus, which grew to about 65 centimeters (25.6 inches) in length.
A detailed analysis revealed that the creatures likely met their end in similar circumstances. It seems that Aspidorhynchus attempted to seize a low-flying pterosaur by the wing, a fatal mistake. The pterosaurs were too large to be swallowed, and the fish’s sharp teeth became trapped in the pterosaur's wing membrane.
The effort to break free would have drained both creatures to the point of exhaustion. Eventually, they sank to the lake's floor, where the low oxygen levels led to the suffocation of the fish and the drowning of the pterosaur.
1. Ancient Women’s True Strength
In 2017, researchers conducted a groundbreaking comparison between the arms of ancient and modern women. The ancient group consisted of skeletons from the Neolithic, Bronze, and Iron Ages of Europe (5300 BC–AD 850), while the modern group included both sedentary women and athletes from Cambridge, including champion rowers.
By scanning the arm and leg bones, researchers were able to examine signs of physical activity. The shape and density of the bones provided valuable insights into the labor intensity and physical strength of these women.
The research uncovered an astonishing finding. Earlier studies had primarily focused on males, and the leg bones of women that were analyzed displayed a wide range of strength. (This pattern also held true in the 2017 study.) As a result, the true arm strength of prehistoric women had remained hidden until now.
However, the scans revealed that these ancient women had arms stronger than those of elite rowers. This impressive strength was the result of years of strenuous manual labor, proving that women played a crucial role in the shift from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to farming societies.
