5,000-year-old Polish grave had 42 teeth, skulls

In a remarkable archaeological discovery in Poland, researchers unearthed a 5,000-year-old grave near Żórawina, south of Wrocław. The excavation, conducted while studying a Roman-period cemetery, revealed an almost complete adult male skeleton and a trove of unusual grave goods.

The burial, determined to date back to around 2900 B.C., predates the Roman cemetery by nearly 3,000 years. Among the remarkable finds were a necklace comprised of 42 teeth, each drilled to be strung onto a cord, as well as an axe, amber beads, and two human skulls. The grave also contained flint implements and fragments of two additional human skulls.

The unique collection of objects and remains belonging to the individual suggest he may have been associated with the Corded Ware culture, a prehistoric tradition known for distinctive pottery, burial customs, and evidence of population movement across Europe.

Embedded within the discovery are two skulls placed beside the man's skeleton, hinting at a possible ritual or funerary practice. However, their origin, cause of death, and any potential biological relationship to the buried individual remain undetermined.

The necklace, crafted from a collection of teeth, may hold symbolic or social significance. Researchers speculate the man could have held an important position within his community, such as a clan leader. Further analysis of the remains will aim to uncover the exact age, sex, and species of the individuals, as well as their dietary habits, through radiocarbon dating and isotopic analysis.