Episode 45: Patchwork Skeleton: 5 People, 2,500 Years, 1 Grave

Archaeologists in Belgium unearthed a skeleton that appeared to be Roman in origin, but radiocarbon dating revealed that it actually consisted of bones from at least five individuals spanning 2,500 years, from the Neolithic period to Roman times. The researchers propose that the Romans may have disrupted a Neolithic grave while burying cremated remains, leading them to incorporate the older bones into their burial practices. Genetic analysis and radiocarbon dating were used to identify the different time periods represented in the skeletal remains.