Possible Rewrite: Female Shaman’s Skeleton Unearthed in Turkey Alongside Wild Animals from 12,000 Years Ago

In 2019, a remarkable discovery was made at the Neolithic settlement of Çemka Höyük in southeastern Turkey. A prehistoric human skeleton was unearthed along with the remains of various wild animals, shedding light on ancient burial practices and potentially revealing the presence of a female „shaman“ who lived around 12,000 years ago.

Çemka Höyük, which translates to „mound by the water,“ is situated near the Tigris River and has been the site of ongoing archaeological excavations. The burial in question dates back to approximately 9300 B.C. during the Pre-Pottery Neolithic A period, providing valuable insights into the lives of early human inhabitants in the region.

The burial was found within the ruins of a roundhouse structure, with a long, flat limestone block covering the grave. This type of covering was unusual for burials of that era, hinting at the significance of the individual interred within. The skeleton was positioned on its right side in a northwest-southeast orientation, facing the west, a common burial practice in many ancient cultures.

Upon analysis, it was determined that the individual was a female aged between 25 and 30 years old at the time of her death. What made this discovery particularly intriguing was the presence of animal remains alongside the human skeleton. The bones of aurochs, an extinct species of cattle, were identified, along with a marten bone, a canid bone, a partridge bone, and the remains of a small ruminant like a sheep or goat.

The inclusion of animal bones in the burial suggests a symbolic relationship between the woman and the hunter-gatherer-fishers of Çemka Höyük. The presence of these animals may have held spiritual or ritual significance, indicating a connection to shamanism, a religious practice involving communication with the spirit world through altered states of consciousness.

The authors of the study on the burial at Çemka Höyük noted, „Considering the fact that the female individual and the animal bones were deposited together in one burial, we may assume some symbolic relations between the animals and the hunter-gatherer-fishers of Çemka Höyük, who had already embarked toward a sedentary life.“

This discovery offers a glimpse into the beliefs and customs of ancient societies, highlighting the complex relationships between humans and the natural world. The presence of a potential female shaman adds a fascinating dimension to our understanding of prehistoric cultures and their spiritual practices.

As further research is conducted at Çemka Höyük and other archaeological sites, we can expect to uncover more secrets of the past, unraveling the mysteries of our ancestors and the rich tapestry of human history.