Intentional cutmarks on an early mesolithic human calvaria from Margaux Cave (Dinant, Belgium)

摘要

Margaux Cave (Belgium) yielded a Pre-nBoreal Early Mesolithic burial covered by whatnresembled a burial mound. The hundreds of humannbones excavated belonged to 7 to 10 adult females.nAmong these bones, the CR3 cranium presents numerousncutmarks on both zygomatic processes, on the frontalnsquama and along the two coronal sutures, as well as onnthe left part of the posterior cranium. The cutmarks onnthe zygomatic processes correspond to the removal of thenmandible while those on the top of the forehead and thenoccipital may result from the removal of the scalp.nTherefore, these cutmarks may be interpreted as part ofna mortuary ritual. Am J Phys Anthropol 144:100–107,n2011. VVC 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.