<p>Ancient humans from the Palaeolithic era in Western Europe may have followed the practice of chopping their fingers off to appease their deities, new research has found.</p>

<p>Archaeologists studied hundreds of cave paintings that showed missing at least a portion of their phalanges to reach this conclusion.</p>

<p>“There is compelling evidence that these people may have had their fingers amputated deliberately in rituals intended to elicit help from supernatural entities,” archaeologist professor Mark Collard of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver was quoted as saying by The Guardian.</p>

<h2><strong>What was revealed in cave paintings?</strong></h2>

<p>In 200 ancient handprints, each one was missing at least one finger, with some only losing a part of the upper segment while others lost multiple fingers.</p>

<p>Collard's presentation expanded on his original 2018 idea that our prehistoric ancestors intentionally amputated fingers as a form of reverence to deities.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/scientists-develop-wireless-charger-that-can-be-fitted-inside-human-body-673045"><strong>Also read:&nbsp;Scientists develop wireless charger that can be fitted inside human body, dissolve later</strong></a></p>

<p>To support this, Collard and PhD student Brea McCauley highlighted 100 other ancient societies where finger amputation was practised, and people commemorated their lives through handprint and stencil paintings.</p>

<p>“This practice was clearly invented independently multiple times,” they state in the paper. “And it was engaged in by some recent hunter-gatherer societies, so it is entirely possible that the groups at Gargas and the other caves engaged in the practice.”</p>

<h2><strong>Alternative theories&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Previously, scientists speculated that finger amputations might be linked to sign language or a counting system, frostbite, or artists bending fingers for artistic illusion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, Collard and McCauley argued that finger amputation was just one type of self-mutilation practised by ancient and even some modern societies.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller</strong></p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/new-evidence-suggests-size-of-the-sun-could-be-smaller-says-report-world-news-wion-656872/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>They mentioned other rituals like fire-walking, face-piercing with skewers, and inserting hooks through the skin to pull heavy chains, all serving similar ritualistic purposes.</p>

<p>The example of Dani women from the New Guinea Highlands cutting off their fingers to symbolise the death of a loved one was also presented as a contemporary practice of such rituals.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ancient humans from the Palaeolithic era in Western Europe may have followed the practice of chopping their fingers off to appease their deities, new research has found.

Ancient humans from the Palaeolithic era in Western Europe may have followed the practice of chopping their fingers off to appease their deities, new research has found. Archaeologists studied hundreds of cave paintings that showed missing at least a portion of their phalanges to reach this conclusion. “There is compelling evidence that these people may have had their fingers amputated deliberately in rituals intended to elicit help from supernatural entities,” archaeologist professor Mark Collard of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver was quoted as saying by The Guardian. What was revealed in cave paintings? In 200 ancient handprints, each one was missing at least one finger, with some only losing a part of the upper segment while others lost multiple fingers. Collard's presentation expanded on his original 2018 idea that our prehistoric ancestors intentionally amputated fingers as a form of reverence to deities. Also read: Scientists develop wireless charger that can be fitted inside human body, dissolve later To support this, Collard and PhD student Brea McCauley highlighted 100 other ancient societies where finger amputation was practised, and people commemorated their lives through handprint and stencil paintings. “This practice was clearly invented independently multiple times,” they state in the paper. “And it was engaged in by some recent hunter-gatherer societies, so it is entirely possible that the groups at Gargas and the other caves engaged in the practice.” Alternative theories Previously, scientists speculated that finger amputations might be linked to sign language or a counting system, frostbite, or artists bending fingers for artistic illusion. However, Collard and McCauley argued that finger amputation was just one type of self-mutilation practised by ancient and even some modern societies. Watch: New evidence suggests size of the Sun could be smaller × They mentioned other rituals like fire-walking, face-piercing with skewers, and inserting hooks through the skin to pull heavy chains, all serving similar ritualistic purposes. The example of Dani women from the New Guinea Highlands cutting off their fingers to symbolise the death of a loved one was also presented as a contemporary practice of such rituals. (With inputs from agencies)

Ancient humans in Europe would chop their fingers off to appease deities: Study 

chopping-fingers-off

Chopping Fingers Off, News on Chopping Fingers Off, stories on Chopping Fingers Off, articles on Chopping Fingers Off, Chopping Fingers Off stories at Wion, Chopping Fingers Off news, Chopping Fingers Off latest news

chopping fingers-off

Ancient humans in Europe would chop their fingers off to appease deities: Study