• 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

Stone Age family killed in house fire 6,000 years ago, study reveals

by Dario Radley
December 12, 2024

A recent interdisciplinary study of ancient human remains from Kosenivka, Ukraine, has revealed new insights into the lives and deaths of individuals from the Cucuteni-Trypillia culture, a Neolithic society that flourished in Eastern Europe between 5500 and 2750 BCE.

Stone Age family killed in house fire 6,000 years ago, study reveals
Photo showing house 6 being excavated, in 2004. Credit: K. Fuchs et al. PLoS ONE (2024), CC BY 4.0

Archaeologists first uncovered the site in 2004, located about 115 miles south of Kyiv. The settlement was part of the Trypillia culture, known for creating some of the earliest “mega-sites” in prehistoric Europe, housing up to 15,000 inhabitants. Despite the extensive archaeological material left behind by the Trypillia people, human remains have been remarkably scarce—making the Kosenivka site a rare and valuable find.

Within a burned house, researchers discovered 50 bone fragments belonging to seven individuals, including two children, one adolescent, and four adults. Four of the individuals were heavily burned, while three were unburned and found outside the house. Radiocarbon dating revealed that six of the individuals likely perished between 3690 and 3620 BCE, while one person’s remains dated roughly 130 years later, suggesting a complex series of events.

Microscopic analysis of the bones revealed that burning occurred shortly after death, indicating the fire may have been deliberate rather than accidental. Adding to the mystery, two adults exhibited unhealed cranial injuries, pointing to violent deaths.

Stone Age family killed in house fire 6,000 years ago, study reveals
Selection of oral and pathological conditions. Credit: K. Fuchs et al. PLoS ONE (2024), CC BY 4.0

Katharina Fuchs, a biological anthropologist at Kiel University and lead author of the study cautioned that the precise link between the fire and the apparent violence remains speculative.

RelatedStories

Prehistoric animal remains in Iran's Wezmeh Cave reveal ancient Zagros ecosystems

Prehistoric animal remains in Iran’s Wezmeh Cave reveal Zagros biodiversity

May 27, 2025
5,500-year-old Küsterberg megalithic tomb restored in Germany

5,500-year-old Küsterberg megalithic tomb restored in Germany

May 11, 2025

Jordan Karsten, an archaeologist at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh, who was not involved in the study, suggested intergroup conflict could explain the destruction. “It seems reasonable that the individuals recovered from Kosenivka were killed during a raid and that their house was lit on fire during the conflict,” Karsten told Live Science.

In addition to exploring the causes of death, the study also examined the dietary habits of the Kosenivka inhabitants. Stable isotopic analysis of human and animal remains, combined with archaeobotanical evidence, revealed that plant-based foods provided around 90% of their protein intake. Meat, surprisingly, contributed less than 10% to their diets, even though cattle were widely kept in the region.

Stone Age family killed in house fire 6,000 years ago, study reveals
Selection of larger fragments from the human bone assemblage. Credit: K. Fuchs et al. PLoS ONE (2024), CC BY 4.0

“Despite the overwhelming dominance of animal bones at other settlement sites, our food web calculations clearly unmasked plants as the primary food source,” the researchers noted. Dental wear patterns also supported this finding, showing evidence of chewing grains and fibrous plant materials.

Trypillia cattle were primarily used for milk production and as a source of manure for fertilizing crops. “Even today, in farming societies without access to artificial fertilizer, large dung heaps are considered symbols of wealth,” the researchers explained.

The fragmented and burned bones at Kosenivka suggest a rare form of burial practice or ritual deposition. Typically, Trypillia burials were extramural, occurring outside settlements, making this case highly unusual.

Stone Age family killed in house fire 6,000 years ago, study reveals
Selection of cases of perimortem cranial trauma, showing location and osteological details of the lesions. Credit: K. Fuchs et al. PLoS ONE (2024), CC BY 4.0

“The isolated skull fragment from a later period could be part of a deliberate ritual deposition,” the researchers wrote. The whole collection of bones could be the result of a complex, multistage burial tradition.

Katharina Fuchs said: “Skeletal remains are real biological archives. Although researching the Trypillia societies and their living conditions in the oldest city-like communities in Eastern Europe will remain challenging, our ‘Kosenvika case’ clearly shows that even small fragments of bone are of great help.”

While the study sheds light on many aspects of Trypillia life, it leaves lingering questions about the reasons behind the violence and the specific circumstances of the fire.

The findings are published in PLOS ONE.

More information: Fuchs K, Hofmann R, Shatilo L, Schlütz F, Storch S, Chabanyuk V, et al. (2024) Life and death in Trypillia times: Interdisciplinary analyses of the unique human remains from the settlement of Kosenivka, Ukraine (3700–3600 BCE). PLoS ONE 19(12): e0289769. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0289769


Stay updated with us! Follow us on Google News, Flipboard, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter, and Linkedin, and join our WhatsApp and Telegram channels for the latest in archaeology, all directly on your favorite platforms!
ShareTweetShareShareSend

You May Also Like...

Ancient DNA in Yunnan reveals 7,100-year-old ‘ghost lineage’ tied to Tibetan and Austroasiatic origins
Anthropology

Ancient DNA in Yunnan reveals 7,100-year-old ‘ghost lineage’ tied to Tibetan and Austroasiatic origins

June 2, 2025
Leprosy existed in the Americas long before European contact, new study reveals
Anthropology

Leprosy existed in the Americas long before European contact, new study reveals

June 1, 2025
Viking-era silver treasure and farm discovered in Täby, Sweden
Archaeology

Viking-era silver treasure and farm discovered in Täby, Sweden

June 1, 2025
maya-collapse-was-transformation-
Anthropology

Ancient DNA reveals Maya collapse was a transformation, not extinction

June 1, 2025
Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago
Archaeology

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

May 31, 2025
Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning
Anthropology

Roman burial of infant twins in Croatia linked to lead poisoning

May 31, 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow us


Instagram
247K

Facebook
105K

Threads
42K

LinkedIn
12K

Twitter
6K

YouTube
1K
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
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
Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

Ancient Chinese star chart dated to 2,300 years ago may be the oldest ever, challenging astronomy history

May 17, 2025
Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

Secrets of the mysterious Gobi wall revealed: archaeologists uncover imperial purpose behind 200-mile structure

May 28, 2025
Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

Stunning 1,600-year-old Byzantine mosaic unveiled in the Negev Desert of Israel

May 27, 2025
Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

Silver amulet unearthed in Frankfurt grave Is the oldest evidence of Christianity north of the Alps

December 15, 2024
$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

Ancient DNA in Yunnan reveals 7,100-year-old ‘ghost lineage’ tied to Tibetan and Austroasiatic origins

Ancient DNA in Yunnan reveals 7,100-year-old ‘ghost lineage’ tied to Tibetan and Austroasiatic origins

June 2, 2025
Leprosy existed in the Americas long before European contact, new study reveals

Leprosy existed in the Americas long before European contact, new study reveals

June 1, 2025
Viking-era silver treasure and farm discovered in Täby, Sweden

Viking-era silver treasure and farm discovered in Täby, Sweden

June 1, 2025
maya-collapse-was-transformation-

Ancient DNA reveals Maya collapse was a transformation, not extinction

June 1, 2025
Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

Oldest whale bone tools discovered in Europe reveal Stone Age humans used marine resources 20,000 years ago

May 31, 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.