MOSCOW, 16 Mar. In Turkey, they found an ancient cemetery where unique funeral rites were held, Phys.org writes with reference to Antiquity magazine.
Archaeologists stumbled upon it while researching in Sagalassos. In 333 BC, this city was conquered by Alexander the Great. The discovered artifacts date back to 100 — 150 years of our era.
The cemetery in Sagalassos differs from other Roman burials of that time by the method of cremation. The bodies were burned on the spot. They were also buried under a layer of lime and bricks. Scientists also found deliberately bent nails next to the remains.
Experts believe that unique funeral rites were held in Sagalassos. Probably, those who buried were afraid of some kind of retribution from the dead. Bent nails, for example, could be regarded as a «magical barrier» — they were laid out around the ashes. It is possible that lime was used not only for aesthetic reasons, but to keep a person or his spirit in the ground.
Earlier it was reported about the ancient tomb of a man and a woman found in Armenia.