Remains of Teenager Suggest Possible Human Sacrifice in Ancient โWestern Europe
BURGOS, SPAIN – November 5, 2025 -โข archaeologists in Burgos, Spain, have unearthedโ the remainsโข of a teenager dating back approximatelyโฃ 2,000 years, potentiallyโ linkedโค to a ritualistic human sacrifice. The discovery, made at the archaeological site ofโ La Haza delโฃ Lomo, โoffers โa rare glimpse into funerary practices and societal structures of the pre-Roman โera โคin the Iberian Peninsula.
The find is significant because it provides the โฃfirst documented evidence ofโข matrilineal communities in Western European prehistory, according to โคresearchers. This kinship โคsystem, where ancestryโค and inheritance are traced โคthrough the maternal line, โchallenges existing understandings of social organization during that period. The โremains, alongโ with โคassociated โขartifacts, are currently undergoing detailed analysis to confirm the nature of the burial and the circumstances surrounding the individual’s โฃdeath.
The excavation โat La Haza del Lomo, a significant archaeological site revealing a complex settlement from the late Iron โAge, began in 2017. The teenager’s remains were found within a โขstructure identified as a possible sanctuary or ceremonial space. Researchers areโค meticulously examining the skeletal remains for signs of โคtrauma consistent with sacrificial practices.
“This is the firstโฃ timeโ that it has โbeen documentedโข evidenceโข of matrilineage communities in the prehistory of Westernโค Europe,” stated researcher Russel, emphasizing the importance ofโ the discovery for understanding ancient social structures. Furtherโฃ inquiry is planned to determineโค the precise role of this โindividual within the community and the specific rituals associated with their burial. The findings are expected to shed light on the religious beliefs and social โdynamics of the โpeople who inhabited this region two millennia ago.
