A cremation pyre approximately 9,500 years old has been unearthed in Malawi, providing novel insights into the practices of ancient hunter-gatherer societies. The pyre, located in a rock shelter at the base of Mount Hora in northern Malawi, is believed to be the oldest known cremation site containing adult remains, the earliest confirmed intentional cremation in Africa, and the first pyre linked to African hunter-gatherers, according to researchers.

Excavations conducted in 2017 and 2018 yielded a total of 170 human bone fragments, apparently from an adult woman just under 1.5 meters tall, discovered in two clusters amidst layers of ash, charcoal, and sediment. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the funerary rituals of early African populations.

The research team, led by individuals whose names were not provided in the source material, suggests that the cremation indicates a level of social complexity and symbolic behavior previously underestimated in hunter-gatherer communities. The intentional act of cremation implies a belief system and a structured approach to dealing with death.

The find challenges previous assumptions about the development of complex social behaviors and mortuary practices. It suggests that sophisticated rituals were present in Africa much earlier than previously thought. Further analysis of the bone fragments and surrounding materials is planned to glean more information about the individual, the cremation process, and the broader cultural context. The research has the potential to reshape our understanding of human evolution and the origins of ritualistic behavior.