4,100-year-old mass grave in China reveals secrets of country’s largest Neolithic headhunting massacre

Over four thousand years ago, a mass grave was discovered in China's northeast region, revealing the largest massacre from the Neolithic era. The victims were identified as women and children from the Honghe village, highlighting the brutality of ancient warfare. The study's author, Qian Wang, explained that headhunting was a common practice in ancient conflicts, where the heads of enemies were taken to capture their spirit and power. nnArchaeologists have been studying the site since the 1990s and found evidence of a large-scale attack. They believe that the Honghe people were involved in intense disputes with neighboring tribes, possibly over resources. The attack likely occurred when the men were away, leaving the village vulnerable. The attackers killed the inhabitants and took their heads as trophies. When the surviving Honghe men returned, they buried the dead and abandoned the village. nnThe discovery of separate skulls suggests that headhunting was a recurring practice. Similar findings in eastern Siberia indicate that this was a widespread cultural phenomenon. The act of decapitation has been significant throughout Chinese history, especially during the Shang dynasty, where it was believed that a person without a head could not seek revenge in the afterlife. This belief was part of the ancient Chinese judicial system, where beheading was one of the Five Punishments for crimes.