• About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact
No Result
View All Result
Archaeology News
  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum
Archaeology News
No Result
View All Result
Home News Anthropology

Mysterious death of 20 Celts 2,000 years ago in Switzerland: victims of a tsunami or human sacrifice?

by Dario Radley
June 18, 2024

Archaeologists have been investigating human bones discovered near the ruins of a bridge in the Three Lakes region of Switzerland. This research aims to unravel the mysteries surrounding these remains and to enhance our understanding of the region’s Celtic heritage.

Mysterious death of 20 Celts 2,000 years ago in Switzerland: victims of a tsunami or human sacrifice?
Legend: Artistic reconstruction of the Cornaux/Les Sauges bridge by P. Roeschli. Credit: Laténium – Archaeological Park and Museum, Neuchâtel

In 1965, renovations of the Thielle Canal led to the discovery of a mix of bones, skulls, and wooden beams on the bed of a river near the ruins of the Celtic bridge at Cornaux/Les Sauges. The site revealed 20 skeletons, prompting decades of speculation and research.

A multidisciplinary team of specialists in archaeology, anthropology, thanatology, biochemistry, and genetics has now revisited this intriguing case. Their findings, supported by the Swiss National Science Foundation and the Autonomous Province of Bolzano, were recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

This study forms part of an international project led by the University of Bern and the Eurac Research Institute for Mummy Studies in Bolzano. The project aims to improve our understanding of the Celts in Switzerland and Northern Italy. The predominantly oral culture of the Celts has left limited written records, with much of the available information coming from the writings of Julius Caesar. “They are the stories of a military adversary, so they are not necessarily objective and complete,” says Zita Laffranchi, a postdoctoral fellow at the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the University of Bern. By focusing on archaeological finds, researchers hope to give a voice to the people not documented in historical texts.

Mysterious death of 20 Celts 2,000 years ago in Switzerland: victims of a tsunami or human sacrifice?
Cornaux/Les Sauges: geographic position and archaeological plan. (a) geographic position of Cornaux/Les Sauges and simplified geological map of the surrounding areas; (b) archaeological plan of the site with colors indicating the dendrochronological dates for some of the wood beams, and (c) picture of COR-16 in situ. Credit: Laffranchi et al., Scientific Reports (2024)

Laffranchi and her colleagues conducted a bioarchaeological investigation to reconstruct the events at Cornaux/Les Sauges. The ruins of the Celtic bridge and the skeletons are indeed controversial. Some theories suggest that a sudden flood or tsunami caused the collapse of the wooden structure. Others propose that the bodies were victims of human sacrifice, a practice associated with water in Celtic culture.

RelatedStories

The Le Câtillon II hoard: unraveling Jersey’s buried Celtic treasure

The Le Câtillon II hoard: exploring the mystery of Jersey’s buried Celtic treasure

March 11, 2025
Ancient genomes uncover women-centric community in Celtic Britain

Ancient genomes reveal women-centered community in Celtic Britain

January 15, 2025

To uncover the truth, the team examined the skeletons from all angles. The state of preservation and the notable presence of brain fragments in five skulls suggest that sediment covered the bodies shortly after death. The remains showed multiple bone injuries distributed throughout the bodies, from skulls to legs, appearing to have been caused by violent impacts. Notably, no injuries consistent with intentional harm or sharp objects were identified, contrasting with findings at other European sites where sacrifices are documented. Additionally, some bones were entangled with wood pieces, pointing to an accidental event. These elements support the theory that a tsunami caused the bridge’s collapse.

Beyond the skeletal remains, chemical analyses of the bones and teeth have provided valuable information. Radiocarbon dating has helped establish a timeframe for when these individuals lived, while isotopic analyses have shed light on their diets and places of residence. Remarkably, paleogenetic analyses have allowed researchers to analyze the ancient DNA of half of the individuals found. Through these scientific techniques, scientists confirmed the presence of at least 20 people, including a young girl, two other children, and 17 adults, most of whom were young men.

Mysterious death of 20 Celts 2,000 years ago in Switzerland: victims of a tsunami or human sacrifice?
Skeletal distribution and examples of perimortem skeletal lesions at Cornaux/Les Sauges. Credit: Laffranchi et al., Scientific Reports (2024)

This demographic bias towards young adult males could indicate a group of prisoners, slaves, merchants, or soldiers. However, some ambiguity remains regarding the timing of their deaths. While some radiocarbon dates suggest they may have perished during the destruction of the bridge, it is impossible to definitively confirm that all the deaths occurred simultaneously and coincided with that event.

“Considering all these elements, it is very likely that a violent and sudden accident took place in Cornaux,” summarizes Marco Milella, a researcher at the University of Bern and co-leader of this project. “But this bridge had a prior life. It may have been a place of sacrifice, and it is conceivable that some corpses preceded the accident. There is no reason to choose between the two alternatives.”

The exact sequence of events at the Celtic bridge in Cornaux/Les Sauges is likely to remain a mystery. “In this type of research, we are interested in individuals. We trace their life stories, which can be emotional,” says Laffranchi. “But at its root, the goal is to better understand our cultural and biological heritage, at the level of the population.”

The Three Lakes region held significant importance for the Celts, particularly the Helvetii, the largest Celtic tribe that settled between Lake Geneva and Lake Constance. This new study, the first to utilize paleogenomics to analyze Celtic individuals from Switzerland, confirms their genetic proximity to other Iron Age populations. Notably, some lineages identified in Cornaux have also been found in Britain, the Czech Republic, Spain, and central Italy. Isotopic analyses indicate that while some individuals may have grown up in the Three Lakes region, others originated from the Alps.

Swiss National Science Foundation

More information: Laffranchi, Z., Zingale, S., Indra, L. et al. Geographic origin, ancestry, and death circumstances at the Cornaux/Les Sauges Iron Age bridge, Switzerland. Sci Rep 14, 12180 (2024). doi:10.1038/s41598-024-62524-y
Share1Tweet1ShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts
Archaeology

Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts

July 13, 2025
1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle
Anthropology

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

July 12, 2025
11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals
Archaeology

11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

July 12, 2025
UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history
Anthropology

UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

July 12, 2025
5,500-year-old 'Polish pyramids' discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering
Anthropology

5,500-year-old ‘Polish pyramids’ discovered in western Poland reveal Neolithic engineering

July 11, 2025
17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction
Archaeology

17th-century Gullberg’s fortress in Gothenburg brought to life through 3D reconstruction

July 11, 2025

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
110K

Threads
43K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Shipwreck Salvage. Credit: rawpixel.com / Public Domain

2,000-year-old shipwreck discovered off Turkish coast with remarkably preserved stacked ceramics

July 2, 2025
Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

Viking age DNA reveals 9,000-year-old HIV-resistant gene originating near the Black Sea

May 18, 2025
Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore, study finds

Neanderthals operated prehistoric “fat factory” 125,000 years ago on German lakeshore

July 3, 2025
Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

Exceptionally large Roman shoes discovered at Magna fort near Hadrian’s Wall

July 3, 2025
Genetic study reveals the origin and diversity of the Huns

European Huns were not of Turkic origin but had ancient Siberian roots, linguistic study reveals

June 24, 2025
$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

$1 million prize offered to decipher 5,300-year-old Indus Valley script

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

Oldest ever genetic data from a human relative found in 2-million-year-old fossilized teeth

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius' eruption

A 21-year-old student successfully deciphered the first word from the Herculaneum scrolls, charred during Mount Vesuvius’ eruption

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

New evidence reveals the source of mercury in the mausoleum of the first Qin emperor

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado's expedition

Oldest US firearm discovered in Arizona: a 500-year-old relic of Coronado’s expedition

Castillian ambassadors attempting to convince Almohad king Abu Hafs Umar al-Murtada to join their alliance. Contemporary depiction from The Cantigas de Santa Maria. Public Domain

Zīrid Ifrīqiya and the Islamic world in the 10th–12th centuries: an international conference at UCL

July 14, 2025
Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts

Mad emperor Caligula had surprising medical knowledge, new research reveals from ancient Roman texts

July 13, 2025
1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

1,600-year-old tomb of Caracol’s founding king Te K’ab Chaak unearthed in Belize jungle

July 12, 2025
11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

11,000-year-old feast in Iran’s Zagros Mountains reveals long-distance animal transport and early Neolithic social rituals

July 12, 2025
UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

UNESCO adds Iran’s Khorramabad Valley to World Heritage List, highlighting 60,000 years of human history

July 12, 2025

Archaeology News online magazine

Archaeology News is an international online magazine that covers all aspects of archaeology.











Categories

  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • Download
  • Game
  • News
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Paleontology
  • Quiz
  • Tours

Subscribe to our newsletter

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved.

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Donation
  • Contact

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

  • Home
  • News
    • Archaeology
    • Anthropology
    • Paleontology
  • Academics
    • Books
    • Conferences
    • Universities
  • Articles
  • VR Tours
  • Quiz & Game
  • Download
  • Encyclopedia
  • Forum

About  .  Contact  .  Donation

© 2024 - Archaeology News Online Magazine. All Rights Reserved

We use cookies to improve your experience and enable functionality and security of this site. Further detail is available in our Privacy Policy. By accepting all cookies, you consent to our use of cookies and use of data.