Prehistoric death ritual, artwork C013 / 9578
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Prehistoric death ritual, artwork C013 / 9578
Prehistoric death ritual. Artwork showing Homo heidelbergensis hominids throwing one of their dead into the Sima de los Huesos (pit of bones), in the caves of the Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain. It is thought that the remains found here were deposited as part of a symbolic ritual behaviour by H. heidelbergensis, an extinct hominid that forms a relatively recent part of the human evolutionary tree. The remains, found in the 1990s, date to around 400, 000 years ago
Science Photo Library features Science and Medical images including photos and illustrations
Media ID 9201453
© RAUL MARTIN/MSF/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Ancestor Ancestors Anthropological Anthropology Behaviour Bipedal Bodies Body Burial Cave Caves Death Evolution Evolutionary Biology Extinct Falling Hominid Hominin Homo Heidelbergensis Human Ancestor Human Evolution Mammal Mammals Palaeontological Paleontological Pit Of Bones Prehistoric Prehistory Primate Primates Primatology Ritual Ritualistic Sierra De Atapuerca Sima De Los Huesos Spain Spanish Throwing Palaeontology
EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a prehistoric death ritual that took place in the caves of Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain. The artwork, known as C013 / 9578, depicts Homo heidelbergensis hominids engaging in a symbolic behavior by throwing one of their deceased members into the Sima de los Huesos, also known as the pit of bones. Dating back approximately 400,000 years ago, these remains provide valuable insights into our evolutionary tree. The image showcases an important moment in history where primitive humans displayed their understanding and respect for death. It is believed that this burial practice was carried out as part of a ritualistic behavior by H. heidelbergensis. This extinct hominid species played a significant role in shaping our ancestors' path towards modern humans. The monochrome illustration allows us to visualize this ancient event with great detail and emotion. As we observe the body falling into the pit surrounded by other animal remains, it becomes evident how deeply rooted rituals and ceremonies are within human nature. This photograph not only serves as a window into our past but also highlights the interdisciplinary nature of scientific research encompassing anthropology, paleontology, primatology, and evolutionary biology. Through discoveries like these at Sierra de Atapuerca's caves, we continue to unravel the mysteries surrounding our biological origins and gain further appreciation for our shared history with other mammalian species.
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