Archaeological excavations in Ecuador have revealed a unique burial ritual that involved placing the heads of deceased babies and toddlers inside larger skulls before burial. The skulls were likely obtained from ritual human sacrifices and were believed to protect the souls of the dead. Similar skull rituals have been found in many ancient cultures and religions, including the Celts and the Stone Age sanctuary of Göbekli Tepe. However, the recent discovery by scientists at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte is the first known instance of using a juvenile skull as a headpiece for the dead.
The discovery was made in the Salango region of Ecuador, where researchers found two children buried with helmets made from the skulls of other children. The inner skull was in good condition, indicating that the outer skull, which served as a helmet, was still covered in flesh at the time of burial. The two skulls were barely able to fit inside their bony helmets, suggesting that the outer skull also came from a child. The reason for using skull helmets is still unclear, but it may have been an attempt to protect the souls of the dead or to honor a deceased family member.
In addition to the skull helmets, the researchers also found wooden figures placed next to the heads of other deceased individuals. The authors of the study suggest that the unique burial ritual may have been an attempt to protect the souls of the dead from the environmental effects of a nearby active volcano. The bones from the graves showed signs of malnutrition, indicating that the people may have been affected by the volcanic activity. The treatment of the two children may have been part of a larger, complex ritual to respond to the eruption’s environmental consequences. Further DNA analysis is needed to determine if the outer skull helmets belonged to family members or were obtained through ritual human sacrifice.
