[Two cases of homicide from the pre-ceramic neolithic era of Arabia Petraea]

Human remains from Basta 1 (P PN B, 6. Mill. B.C.) and Sabra 1 (Khiamian, 7. Mill. B.C.) were prepared and studied; the results show that Basta 1 was a permanent settlement and Sabra 1 was a temporary summer camp. Both settlements are located in Arabia Petraea. Basta 1, No. 3477: The calvarium of a boy, aged 8 to 9 a, from Basta 1 was studied. The race can be determined as orientalide, according v. Eickstedt's classification. The boy was killed; as evidence by 2 blows to the skull occurring while he was alive. The cause of death has been reconstructed, using parallels taken from ethnological and forensic medical research. First, the boy received a light blow on the left forehead, with a sharp weapon. The authors present as a working hypothesis that the motivation for the death was rape, taking place as the boy was (probably) in a semi-conscious state. After recovering and rising to his feet, the boy suffered a deadly blow on the back of the skull (rabbit punch). A blunt instrument was used for the second blow. The body lay where it fell over 1 a or more; afterwards it was found by members of his own group. They removed the calvarium and buried it in their permanent settlement. The manner in which burial took place, would seem to indicate, that no further religious or ritual ceremony was involved. This type of crime has been observed e.g. as occurring among purely male groups-such as temporary herdsmen. In case of the boy from Basta 1, this would the earliest evidence for the occurrence of this type of sexual delinquency in prehistoric times. Sabra 1, No. 4088: Skull fragments of 2 individuals were recovered from a camp fire shifted by humans, in Sabra 1. Individual I is a male, aged 25 to 30 a; Individual II is a female of 25 to 30 a (or perhaps even younger). The examination showed that the bone fragments had been subjected to temperatures less than or equal to 200 degrees C (examination of bone material) and around 100 degrees C (evidence of charcoal material), when they were still fresh. The bones were not burned but grilled (or roasted). The evidence would indicate a case of antropophagy. The parallels in ethnological studies show that anthropophagy occurs only in farming societies, as religious rites; up to now, there is no evidence for this type of rites among the hunting and collecting groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)