2,000 years ago, a bridge in Switzerland collapsed on top of Celtic sacrifice victims: new study suggests
2,000 years ago, a study suggests that a bridge collapse in what is now Switzerland may have resulted in the tragic deaths of Celtic sacrifice victims. The collapse of the bridge happened in western Switzerland, entangling the bodies of 20 individuals, including three cows and two horses. However, for decades, archaeologists have been unsure whether this event was a result of a catastrophic flood or an intricate ritual sacrifice. New research, incorporating an analysis of skeletal trauma and genetics, proposes that the answer may lie somewhere in between.
The fragmented remnants of a wooden bridge, along with iron and bronze weapons, pottery, and several human and animal skeletons, were discovered in the late 1960s. Notably, most of the human skeletons recovered belonged to adult males, some were found pinned beneath the collapsed beams of the bridge that was originally built in 135 B.C. While a flood could have triggered the collapse and caused the deaths, the alternative hypothesis revolves around the possibility of a Celtic ritual offering involving sacrificed humans and animals.
In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, researchers employed various analysis techniques to shed light on the complex events that took place at the site, pointing toward a scenario encompassing both sacrifices and a bridge collapse. The study focused on the 20 human skeletons to determine factors such as the age, sex, and traumatic injuries of each victim. It was observed that the majority were adult males, and about half of the individuals had suffered blunt-force injuries around the time of death. Surprisingly, most of these injuries were to the skull, contradicting the limb injuries one would expect from a structural collapse but more closely resembling head traumas inflicted by other individuals. Examination of the animal remains also revealed no evidence of sharp trauma typically associated with sacrificial practices, supporting the theory of an accidental bridge collapse.
To establish a timeline, the team employed carbon-14 analysis on 11 of the human skeletons. Results indicated that these individuals lived between the third and first centuries B.C. Interestingly, the oldest skeleton dates back to 361 to 152 B.C., while the most recent one dates from 167 B.C. to A.D. 7. This suggests that the bodies entered the river at different times, some through the bridge's collapse and others through potentially violent execution.
To further investigate the victims, isotope and DNA analyses were conducted on the ten most well-preserved skeletons. The purpose was to determine kinship and ascertain whether individuals originated from regions other than Switzerland. Isotope analysis indicates a person's place of origin based on variations of elements found in their teeth and bones from the water and food they consumed. The findings revealed that nine of the individuals were biologically male, and no significant genetic relationships were identified. Chemical analysis suggested descent from West or Central European populations, with evidence of mobility among some individuals during their lives.
Collectively, the evidence points to a sudden and violent accident that occurred at the bridge, potentially during the early first century B.C. However, study co-leader Marco Milella from the University of Bern in Switzerland emphasizes that the bridge had a prior history. It may have served as a site of sacrifice, and some of the corpses may predate the accident. The research team proposes that there is no need to choose between these two alternatives, viewing them as complementary rather than mutually exclusive.
