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Ancient Europeans Used Skulls to Ward Off Water Gods
19 Dec
Summary
- Children's skulls were found at lake settlements vulnerable to flooding.
- Skulls likely served as apotropaic magic to create spiritual boundaries.
- This ritual may have been a desperate measure to appease water gods.
Villages in Bronze Age Europe, situated in flood-prone areas around the ninth century BC, developed unusual flood defenses. Archaeological findings reveal children's skulls were strategically placed at the edge of lake settlements in what is now Germany and Switzerland. These were not human sacrifices but rather skulls buried after death, then exhumed and repositioned centuries later.
This practice is theorized to be a form of apotropaic magic, intended to create a spiritual boundary for protection. The placement of these skulls occurred near the end of the villages' final occupation period, suggesting a last-ditch effort to appease presumed water deities amidst worsening flood conditions.
While the flood protection theory is speculative and lacks documentary evidence, the powerful gesture indicates the compelling reasons the inhabitants felt to employ such measures. The inhabitants repeatedly returned to these villages despite flooding, highlighting their deep connection to these lakeside communities.
