Religion

A great number of skeletons have been found in Nordlingdon in Bavaria, where nests of skulls have also been, decapitated from the body. This appears to have been done intentionally using flint knives, after the body was dead. They were then dried, and ceremonially preserved in the nest with the faces looking westward. These skulls had strange markings on their head, as shown in the picture.

Skulls found in a cave in France

In a low roofed cave close to the village of La Chapelle-aux-Saints, in France, a well-preserved Neanderthal skeleton was found with its face to the west in a large pit. Its body was wedged into position with many heavy stones, the legs were folded, and in its hand was the foot of an ox with the vertebrae of a reindeer at the back. Above this figure, a painting was drawn symbolizing rising spirits. Many animals including a wooly rhinoceros were buried nearby. It is not likely that early man would have gone to all this trouble without a reason.

The main reason historians thought all this occurred was that, like Egyptians, Prehistoric man believed in the afterlife. They, like the Egyptians had to make requirements for the afterlife, and be prepared.

Many religious paintings were made down in deep caves with no light. They carved torches, filled them with animal fat, and a wick of dried moss, this gave them a flame to work with. Moss does not give off smoke, which is why no smoke marks have been found on the walls.