Krapina 3: Cut Marks and Ritual Behavior?

Abstract

Incisions on the frontal of the Krapina 3 cranium differ from other cut marks from the site. Thirty-five, mostly parallel marks course up the frontal from right of the midline, just posterior to the supraorbitale point to left of the midline, slightly anterior to bregma. They are angled mostly perpendicular to the midsagittal plane, averaging 5.2 mm in length and are on average 1.2 mm apart. The marks' characteristics are not consistent with scalping, cannibalism, defleshing or other perimortem activities described for Neandertals or modern groups. These marks represent a type of funereal behavior yet to be documented in Neandertals and suggest a kind of ritual treatment of the deceased.