Event Brief
Iron Age skull shows possible brain removal marks
Filed: Jun 11, 2026 at 2:00 PM ET
Summary: A new study reports scrape marks on an Iron Age skull from northwest Scotland, suggesting postmortem brain removal.
WHO: Archaeologists and authors of a paper in the journal Antiquity
WHAT: They identified scrape marks in an Iron Age skull and evidence of postmortem manipulation, including possible brain removal and sharpened limb bones.
WHEN: Jun 11, 2026 at 1:21 PM ET
WHERE: Loch Borralie, northwest Scotland
WHY: The remains showed scrape marks inside the skull and other postmortem modifications found during osteoarchaeological, isotope, and ancient DNA analyses.
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