Did Iron Age Britons remove brains of the dead?

Archaeologists have discovered evidence suggesting that Iron Age Britons may have removed the brains of the deceased, according to a new paper published in the journal Antiquity. The findings stem from the analysis of human remains excavated in 2000 from a burial cairn in Loch Borralie, in northwest Scotland, an area with conditions favorable for bone preservation from that period. The remains belonged to two individuals, an adult female and a juvenile, whose deaths were radiocarbon dated to between 50 BCE and 70 CE. Osteoarchaeological analysis revealed a fracture at the base of the juvenile's cranium, which the authors suggest was a targeted impact, distinct from patterns seen in accidental trauma. Perimortem fractures were also observed on both scapulae of the female individual. In addition to the potential brain removal, the study also identified sharpened limb bones, which may have been fashioned into tools. Previous archaeological work in the region had already indicated postmortem manipulation of human remains, including mummification and the repurposing of bones into artifacts.