Skeleton found in Belgium contains bones of five people spanning 2,500 years of history

A recent analysis of a skeleton discovered in an ancient Roman cremation cemetery in Pommerœul, Belgium, revealed an unusual discovery: the bones actually belong to at least five different individuals spanning a period of 2,500 years. Originally discovered in the 1970s near the French border, the tomb included a skeleton in the fetal position, a rare pose for Roman-era burials. Initial assumptions suggested it was a single Roman-era burial, but new scientific examinations show otherwise, calling into question previous understandings of the site.

Radiocarbon dating reveals patchwork of bones

In 2019, radiocarbon tests provided surprising results, showing that while the cremated remains did indeed date from the Roman period, the bones from the fetal burial dated much earlier to the Neolithic era, between 7,000 and 3,000 BC . The archaeologists, led by Barbara Veselka of the Vrije Universiteit Brussels applied various techniques, including DNA sequencing and radiocarbon dating, to confirm that the grave contained the bones of five separate people. Although the exact number may exceed five, Veselka confirmed that DNA analysis identified at least five distinct individuals.

Intentional or ritual assembly?

THE discovery prompted further investigation into why Roman burials would include Neolithic remains. A Roman bone pin was found near the skull, which was identified as belonging to a Roman-era woman from the third or fourth century AD. One hypothesis suggests that Roman settlers may have stumbled upon the Neolithic tomb and decided to add the woman’s skull to the tomb. site. Another possibility is that the Romans created this composite skeleton by intentionally arranging scattered bones from different periods.

Speculation on cultural significance

Experts believe the Pommerœul site may have had cultural or spiritual significance due to its proximity to a river, which has often been considered a powerful place across various eras and cultures. Bioarchaeologist Jane Holmstrom of Macalester College, who was not part of the study, noted that the Romans may have aimed to establish a historical or territorial connection to the land by collecting these remains, reflecting an ancient form land claim through funerary practices.
The true purpose of this composite burial, however, remains a mystery lost to history.