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Archaeologists have discovered that more than 7,000 years ago, people in what is now Sweden buried their dead dressed in garments decorated with fur and feathers. A new soil-analysis technique identified microscopic traces of hair and feathers in 35 graves. Among the finds was a boy wrapped in deer skin and likely wearing a headdress made of woodpecker feathers, according to LiveScience.
The study, published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, examined Late Mesolithic burials at the Skateholm site in southern Sweden, used as a cemetery between 5200 and 4800 BCE. Researchers analyzed 139 soil samples from graves. After sieving and centrifuging them, they observed microscopic fibers, hairs, and feathers that normally do not survive in such environments. According to University of Helsinki archaeologist Tuija Kirkinen, soft organic materials like fur or plant fibers are usually preserved only in special conditions, such as underwater or in ice, but this method allows them to be detected even in poorly preserved sites.
Mammal hair was found in 20 burials, though only about a quarter could be identified precisely, including otter, deer, and cattle. One grave of a young adult contained hair from mountain hare, a mustelid, a bat, and an owl, along with beads made from red deer teeth—possibly indicating a decorative headdress.
Researchers concluded that at least 21 individuals were buried with feathers, mostly from waterfowl. Particles around the head and neck suggest feathered headdresses. In one grave, a child and an adult man were buried together with amber beads, brown bear teeth, bone and stone tools, and red ochre. Soil between them contained deer hair and a possible woodpecker feather, indicating the child wore deer-skin clothing and a feathered headpiece.
Another burial of an elderly woman revealed waterfowl feathers near her neck, likely from a headdress or cloak. Near her right heel, scientists found white mustelid hair and brown predator hair, suggesting multicolored fur footwear.
Co-author Kristiina Mannermaa said the research highlights the importance of birds and feathers in these ancient societies. Kirkinen added that identifying microscopic fragments at the species level remains challenging and will require further methodological improvements. Future studies may combine additional soil sampling with sediment DNA analysis to increase accuracy in detecting ancient organic remains.
