A cremation pyre approximately 9,500 years old has been unearthed in Malawi, providing novel insights into the practices of ancient African hunter-gatherer societies. Located in a rock shelter at the base of Mount Hora in northern Malawi, the pyre is believed to be the oldest globally to contain the remains of an adult, representing the earliest confirmed intentional cremation in Africa and the first pyre linked to African hunter-gatherers.
Excavations conducted in 2017 and 2018 yielded a total of 170 human bone fragments, apparently from an adult woman less than 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall, discovered in two clusters amidst layers of ash, charcoal, and sediment. The discovery offers a rare glimpse into the funerary rituals of these ancient populations.
Researchers suggest the cremation indicates complex social and symbolic behaviors among these early African communities. The deliberate act of cremation implies a level of planning, resource allocation, and communal effort that challenges previous assumptions about the simplicity of hunter-gatherer life. The find suggests that these societies may have held sophisticated beliefs about death and the afterlife.
The research team, working at the site, noted the significance of the discovery in understanding early human cultural practices. The analysis of the bone fragments and surrounding materials is ongoing, with the aim of gleaning further information about the individual, the cremation process, and the broader cultural context.
The discovery challenges previous assumptions regarding the development of complex social behaviors and funerary rituals in Africa. Further research at the site and comparative analysis with other archaeological findings are expected to provide a more comprehensive understanding of early human societies in Africa and their contributions to the development of human culture.
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