Ancient Fire and Violence Offer Clues to Lives of Neolithic Ukrainians

Bioarchaeological study reveals insights into the Cucuteni-Trypilla culture's diet, social structure, and mysterious deaths 5,600 years ago.

Researchers analyzed 50 human bone and tooth fragments from a 5,600-year-old settlement near Kosenivka, Ukraine, linked to the Neolithic Cucuteni-Trypilla culture.
The remains, found in a house, belonged to at least seven individuals of mixed ages and genders, with four showing evidence of heavy burning.
Microscopic analysis suggests the burns occurred shortly after death, possibly due to an accidental fire, with some deaths potentially caused by carbon monoxide poisoning.
Two individuals displayed unhealed cranial injuries, raising questions about whether violence played a role in their deaths, though no definitive link to the fire was established.
Dietary analysis revealed the Trypillia people relied primarily on plant-based foods, with meat making up less than 10% of their diet, and cattle used mostly for milk production and field fertilization.