Archaeologists have uncovered human remains in northern Greece that could shed new light on burial practices during the Late Neolithic period. Two graves were found beside an ancient enclosure at Toumba Serron, a prehistoric settlement near Serres. The discovery is potentially significant because no Late Neolithic burials have previously been documented in this part of Greece, according to the British School at Athens.
Excavators found the graves in a possible ditch alongside an earthen wall that once enclosed the settlement. The graves are among several discoveries made during excavations from 2022 through 2024, including houses and features linked to different stages of Neolithic occupation.
Earlier surveys had identified pottery scattered across the mound and signs of structures buried below the surface. Those findings helped archaeologists select excavation areas and trace the layout of a settlement whose buildings and surrounding spaces changed over time.
Human remains in northern Greece found beside Neolithic enclosure
Researchers traced the enclosure wall for about 900 meters (2,950 feet). It measured roughly 2.7 meters (8.9 feet) across and appears to have been used during an earlier phase of the Late Neolithic settlement. Excavations suggest the wall may have fallen out of use as the settlement entered a later phase.
The team uncovered mudbrick structures from the earlier period and an oval house from the later period. That house measured 4.3 by 2.95 meters (14.1 by 9.7 feet). A possible kiln and nearby open area provided additional evidence of activity around the homes.
The later house was particularly important because earlier work had suggested that much of that period’s residential evidence had been lost. Its discovery showed that some buildings remained preserved.
Drone mapping, magnetic surveys, and soil samples also revealed possible ovens, hearths, and burned structures. Archaeological deposits were identified about 1.6 to 2 meters (5.2 to 6.6 feet) below the surface.
Stone tools and animal bones reveal daily life at Toumba Serron
Finds from the settlement also offer clues about food and work. Most stone tools examined were made from flint sourced from the Nigrita mountains and the Rhodope range. Wear on several blades suggests they were used to cut cereals and weeds.
Sheep and goats accounted for nearly 60% of the animal remains examined, followed by pigs at 23% and cattle at 18%. Evidence also points to milk production. Researchers found an unusual number of unborn and newborn sheep, goats and pigs, along with signs that dogs were eaten.
The research team is exploring whether disease, poor nutrition, or other environmental pressures affected food supplies. Archaeologists are also building digital records and three-dimensional maps of Toumba Serron to document the discoveries and help explain the settlement’s history.
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