modification

A groundbreaking archaeological study has revealed the first and only known instance of systematic human bone modification in Neolithic China, challenging our understanding of ancient Chinese mortuary practices. The discovery, published in Scientific Reports, presents evidence of an unprecedented cultural phenomenon from the sophisticated Liangzhu civilization that flourished 5,300 to 4,500 years ago. Unprecedented Archaeological Evidence Dr. Junmei Sawada and colleagues examined 183 human bones from archaeological sites in the Yangzi River Delta, identifying 52 specimens showing clear signs of deliberate modification. These worked bones, found scattered in canals and moats of Liangzhu urban centers, represent a stark departure from traditional Chinese burial customs that had persisted for millennia explains a Phys.org article. The Liangzhu culture, named after the modern