Societal sensibilities, as well as moral evolution have been evolving throughout the whole history of the human race. A perfect example of this would be that 8000 year ago it wasn’t particularly strange to see someone’s head on a pike. Back then, this was a socially acceptable and a commonly exercised ritual.
Thanks to the careful and precise work of archeologists, we are able to comprehend how terrifying day-to-day life was in ancient times.
Babies in Public Baths
During archeological excavations in Israel, an ancient Byzantine bath was explored. The building was equipped with sewage and drainage systems. But, a while after the start of the excavations, archaeologists made a horrifying discovery – the pipes of the bath were filled with the bones of thousands of babies. It is still unclear what the exact purpose of this shocking matter was.
Neanderthal Cannibals
In 2010, proof that Neanderthals were actually cannibals was discovered in Spain. Archeologists found the bones of three men, three women, three teenagers, two children, and a newborn. They were part of a terrifying Neanderthal feast.
Vikings with no Heads
Railroad workers in Dorset, England found a strange ancient cemetery. What they found were the remains of a small group of Scandinavian soldiers, laid next to each other on the ground, each missing their head. Experts believe that the Vikings were beheaded because of some heinous crime.
Pike in the Head
During excavations in Sweden, a few skulls were found with pikes thrust into each one. In some of the skulls there were remains of other skulls. This shocking scene happened around 8000 years ago.
The Grauballe Man
Archeologists have found many mummified human bodies through time, but this one is special. There is a huge wound from a cut on his neck, which shows that this person had probably been sacrificed for bountiful crops.
The Venetian Vampire
You most probably know the most popular methods to kill a vampire – wooden stake to the heart or garlic. But there is a method that is far stranger – a brick and cement in the mouth of the suspected vampire. It was believed that this method halted the reincarnation of the monster. Brutal as may be, at one point in history, this method was believed to be quite effective, because truly, after committing the act, no reincarnation was observed…
The Oldest Leper
In ancient times, leprosy was considered to be one of the scariest diseases, even though it is not very contagious. A highly unpleasant stigma was put upon those who suffered from the sickness. The first and most heard-of incident of this was from 4000 years ago. The whole body of an Indian man was discovered. This would mean that the man had been exiled from the community because Hindu tradition back then was in favor of cremation of the dead.
Chemical War in Ancient Syria
Two thousand years ago, a group of Roman soldiers became victims of a particularly unpleasant death. The Persians warriors were surrounding the Syrian city of Dura, and soldiers had begun digging tunnels all around in order to fence in the Roman defense. The Romans, in turn, decided to dig tunnels of their own that would intercept those of the Persians. As a comeback, the Persians set up one of the most horrifying traps in the history of warfare – a petrochemical mixture which literarily turned the lungs of the Romans into acid.
The original article was published in List25.
