5,500-Year-Old 'Polish Tombs' Uncovered in Poland Reveal New Insights About Neolithic Society

The structures left behind by ancient societies reveal many things about their ideologies. Researchers are hoping something similar will happen with their findings at the village of Wyskoć, in General Dezydery Chłapowski Landscape Park in the Wielkopolska province, Poland, as reported by Archaeology Magazine. The team discovered two megalithic tombs, possibly built by the Funnelbeaker Culture, a Neolithic community known for its pottery and monumental burials. These tombs were detected during a field survey by archaeologists from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań. Not only would the tombs shed light on the practices followed by the community, but they would also showcase the engineering capabilities of this agricultural society.

Polish Pyramids

The survey was conducted by archaeologists from Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, using remote sensing technology. Later, its existence was confirmed through excavations. They were around 656 feet in length and reached a height of 13 feet. The tombs had an elongated trapezoidal shape, with their eastern fronts being wide and high, while their western front were low. The structures were nicknamed "Polish Pyramids" by experts, according to Interesting Engineering. Further examinations indicated that the tombs dated back to 5,500 years ago, in the 4th millennium BCE. These findings are valuable, as only two other sets of tombs have been uncovered in Poland since 1930. These are some of the oldest examples of Early European architecture in the region.

Significance of These Findings

Seeing the features, researchers concluded that the arrangement adhered to cardinal directions. It could imply that the monuments had symbolic significance for the community and reflected their belief system. Adherence to cardinal directions could imply that the community understood astronomy and prioritized it in their belief system. The way both the tombs were laid out also shed light on their advanced grasp of spatial design.

Experts think that the community's leaders were buried in these massive graves, which are some of the largest of their kind in the world. Past investigations revealed that the Funnelbeaker Culture was egalitarian, meaning every individual held equal positions in the society. However, people like tribal leaders, shamans, or priests appeared to have the special honor of resting after death in such large structures. These tombs were constructed using massive stones, some of which measured around ten tons. The stones were transported by the original builders using sledges and human strength. Later on, many of these stones were removed by people for various reasons, which led to the tombs' and the stones' degradation. 

What Remains Inside the Tombs?

Past insights about the structures indicate that the individual buried inside was possibly placed in a supine position, with legs placed towards the east. Experts believe that several objects were put beside the skeleton, such as pottery, clay vessels, stone axes, and hatchets. Researchers do not think that the skeletons remain in the tombs, but are hopeful that objects could appear after deeper analysis. During the survey, five probable locations carrying tombs were pointed out, of which only two returned results. Researchers are hopeful that further examination of the region will provide more insights about European culture.