Ring of Skulls: Ancient and Modern Sacrifices to the Water Gods

The macabre discovery of a ring of children’s skulls buried in the earth around lakes in Germany and Switzerland has revealed an age-old tradition of making offerings and sacrifices to the water gods. 

Archaeologists from Basel University, Switzerland found the skulls of children forming a protective ring around the settlements in what they believe was a sacrifice to the water gods to prevent disastrous flooding.

The ancient skulls are broken and slashed, displaying the head trauma of suspected axe blows. The researchers said that the children had suffered violent deaths, perhaps due to war, and were buried. Much later, their skulls were retrieved by Bronze Age communities and placed strategically around the settlements to keep the water at bay, as they regularly faced flooding.

These skulls are a rare find. Benjamin Jennings, archaeologist at Basel University told LiveScience, “the remains are found at the perimeter of the settlement — not inside and not outside, but at a liminal position on the border between in and out”, suggesting they were used to protect against rising waters.

Throughout history there has been a belief in water spirits – harmful and benign – in cultures around the globe. Water spirits are often fickle and dangerous in legend, and people who lived near water would leave offerings to placate the gods and ward off disaster. Some of these traditions are still done today.