Introduction to Iron Age Funerary Traditions

Iron Age inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula, during the last millennium BCE, practiced a distinctive and intriguing funerary ritual. This involved the act of decapitating individuals and then displaying their heads in prominent locations, sometimes using a large nail to secure the skull. However, archaeologists have been uncertain about the identity of those who underwent this treatment. The question remains whether this ritual was a form of veneration for esteemed members of the community or a stark warning to potential enemies.

Investigating theOrigins of the Beheaded Individuals

To shed light on this question, a team of European researchers undertook an analysis of seven severed heads from two archaeological sites in Spain. The aim was to determine whether the decapitated individuals were native to the settlements or outsiders. If the beheaded individuals were locals, it would suggest that the practice was a funerary custom for respected community members. On the other hand, if the severed heads belonged to outsiders, they might have served as a symbol of power and a deterrent to enemies. Interestingly, the study found evidence supporting both hypotheses, indicating that the traditions surrounding funerary decapitation varied not only between communities but also within individual settlements.

Insights from the Study

Rubén de la Fuente-Seoane, an archaeologist at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the first author of the study, outlined the premise of their investigation: "If the severed heads were war trophies, they would not originate from the sites analyzed, whereas if they were venerated individuals, these would most likely be local." The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, utilized isotopic analyses to study the diets, environments, and movement patterns of ancient humans. This methodology was applied to seven severed heads discovered at Puig Castellar and Ullastret, an ancient Iberian settlement and city on the northeastern coast of modern-day Spain.

Findings from Puig Castellar and Ullastret

The analyses revealed that three of the four severed heads from Puig Castellar likely belonged to non-local individuals. These heads were found near the inner face of the wall, beyond the main entrance of the settlement, which suggests an intention to make these remains visible. Based on these findings, the researchers theorize that these severed heads were probably war trophies intended to intimidate both external and internal enemies. In contrast, the three severed heads from Ullastret showed a mix of local and non-local origins. Two of the heads, likely from local individuals, were discovered on a city street, implying they might have been displayed on the walls or doors of! homes, possibly as a form of veneration or vindication by society.

Implications of the Study

The third head from Ullastret, believed to belong to an outsider, was found in a pit, which could have been used as a storage site for enemy heads. Ultimately, the study indicates that the practice of displaying severed heads was applied differently at each site, ruling out a homogeneous symbolic expression. As Fuente-Seoane noted, "The practice of [displaying] severed heads was applied in a different way at each site, which seems to rule out a homogeneous symbolic expression." This suggests that the funerary tradition of decapitation was more complex than previously thought, with more research needed to fully understand its significance. Nevertheless, the study provides valuable insights into an ancient culture that has left few archaeological traces of its societal organization.