Archaeologists in southern France have unearthed a Late Neolithic tomb that raises more questions than answers. The discovery, located in the town of Puisserguier, in the Hérault department, is a singular burial: that of a woman whose head was carefully placed on her chest. The remains have been dated to the Chalcolithic period (2700–2600 BCE).

In 2017, a team of archaeologists conducting routine evaluations at the site encountered a 2.9-meter-diameter pit, likely originally used as a storage silo. Within it, at a depth of 30 centimeters, lay the skeleton of an adult woman.

Initial analyses determined her gender based on pelvic morphology, which was later confirmed through paleogenetic testing. Radiocarbon dating placed the remains in a late phase of the Verazien culture, a material tradition characteristic of the Languedoc-Roussillon and Catalonia regions.

woman neolithic decapitated
Location, plan and general view of the excavation. Credit: R. Marsac, O. Ginouvez & J. Rouquet

However, what makes this burial unique is the treatment of the body. Although the skeleton’s arrangement follows the typical norms of the time — with the body supine and arms crossed over the chest — the head had been severed from the neck and meticulously placed on the torso, supported by the right hand.

Researchers have ruled out natural decomposition processes as the cause of the unusual positioning of the head. The anatomical preservation of the connection between the skull, mandible, and right hand indicates they were covered with soil before decomposition occurred, preventing accidental displacement of the bones. This reinforces the hypothesis that the decapitation was intentional, likely performed at the time of death or shortly thereafter.

Nevertheless, the fragmented state of the cervical vertebrae makes it difficult to determine if visible cuts are present on the bones, which could have provided direct evidence of deliberate severing. This lack of marks, combined with the integration of the skull with the rest of the body, contrasts with other documented practices in the region where skulls were removed long after burial.

The Neolithic and Chalcolithic periods are known for a wide diversity of funerary customs. In various European sites, burials with decapitated bodies are often associated with violent rituals or symbolic practices, such as the removal of skulls for display or veneration. However, no burial similar to the one at Puisserguier has been documented in southern France until now.

woman neolithic decapitated
View of the skull held by the right hand. Credit: R. Marsac

In some archaeological contexts, decapitation can be interpreted as a gesture of social or symbolic exclusion, relegating the deceased to a marginal position within the community. However, the evident care in the arrangement of the body suggests otherwise. The anatomically correct positioning and the effort to maintain an appearance of normalcy in the overall arrangement of the skeleton suggest respect for the deceased, albeit with a singularity that could indicate a special ritual or symbolic meaning.

This burial raises multiple questions for archaeologists. Why was this woman decapitated? Was it part of a unique funerary ritual, or was she the victim of extraordinary circumstances? Does this case represent an isolated example, or does it indicate the existence of a more widespread, yet undocumented, practice?

The lack of exact parallels in the region complicates its interpretation. While records of decapitations exist in other European Neolithic sites, they often involve dismemberments or less meticulous arrangements, highlighting the uniqueness of the Puisserguier discovery.

The Puisserguier burial, as far as we know, has no equivalent elsewhere in France. Its singularity lies in the stark contrast between the apparent intentional interruption of anatomical continuity at the neck and the meticulous postmortem care given to the body. The attention paid to the position of the head and the right hand likely reflects a deliberate funerary practice, the researchers conclude. They add that furthermore, the placement of the body in a manner commonly observed in individual Neolithic burials suggests, we believe, the importance attributed to maintaining normalcy in death, despite the remarkable treatment and staging applied to the deceased.

SOURCES

Rouquet J, Hernandez J, Marsac R, Pruvost M, Gandelin M. The decapitated woman of Puisserguier (Hérault, France): a case study of mortuary treatment. Antiquity. Published online 2024:1-7. doi:10.15184/aqy.2024.191

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