British scientists spoke about the results of the study of burials in the Lechlade necropolis.
In the burial complex, several Bronze Age burials were discovered, according to scientists, belonging to shamans or the rulers of the then society. Many of them were buried with cowhides taken from animals, along with hooves and skulls. Green volcanic tuff bracelets were found on the skeletons' wrists. In the Bronze Age, this stone, like jadeite in Mesoamerica and jade in China, was considered by people to be a symbol of eternal life, fertility and heaven.
Archaeologists have paid particular attention to the burial of an elderly shaman, discovered 150 meters from the large Neolithic ceremonial complex of Kursus, one of the most important prehistoric religious sites in southwest Britain. At the time of the shaman's funeral, he was already at least a thousand years old, scientists say.
A man of about 50-60 years old was buried in a sitting position. With him, nothing was found except one cowhide. Archaeologists noticed that similar sedentary burials were found in ancient India and in the Swedish Skateholm, where the burial of an elderly shamaness was discovered.
According to scientists, the found burial belongs to the culture of bell-shaped goblets. Coming here from other lands, representatives of this culture began to bury their elite in places sacred to the previous tribes.