Dr. Zosia Archibald

cut off rather roughly, presumably after the death of Cephas III, and placed in the entrance of the tomb. So why cut off the bronze head of a statue and put it in the tomb? Because it then becomes a severed head. And in a recent article, which is freely available online, I have suggested, and I'm not the first person to suggest this, but I think it's an independently suggested thing.

I've suggested that the reason why this head was cut off the statue was because then you have the full power of the individual concentrated in this head. And it becomes a prophetic head, like the head of Orpheus that sang after death. And there are many European traditions. There's the Irish head of Bran. There are other versions of these severed heads that become prophetic.

I've suggested that the reason why this head was cut off the statue was because then you have the full power of the individual concentrated in this head. And it becomes a prophetic head, like the head of Orpheus that sang after death. And there are many European traditions. There's the Irish head of Bran. There are other versions of these severed heads that become prophetic.

I've suggested that the reason why this head was cut off the statue was because then you have the full power of the individual concentrated in this head. And it becomes a prophetic head, like the head of Orpheus that sang after death. And there are many European traditions. There's the Irish head of Bran. There are other versions of these severed heads that become prophetic.

And that's what I would suggest this head is doing. It is becoming a prophetic head.

And that's what I would suggest this head is doing. It is becoming a prophetic head.

And that's what I would suggest this head is doing. It is becoming a prophetic head.

Quite a lot, because tombs are one of the archaeological phenomena that's been investigated extensively. In the region that we're looking at, one of the commonest forms of burial for distinguished individuals, but also ordinary people, was the earthen mound, the tumulus.

Quite a lot, because tombs are one of the archaeological phenomena that's been investigated extensively. In the region that we're looking at, one of the commonest forms of burial for distinguished individuals, but also ordinary people, was the earthen mound, the tumulus.

Quite a lot, because tombs are one of the archaeological phenomena that's been investigated extensively. In the region that we're looking at, one of the commonest forms of burial for distinguished individuals, but also ordinary people, was the earthen mound, the tumulus.

And if you travel around the East Balkans, you will see lots and lots of these mounds. And many of them are collective burials, but some of them are individual burials. So typically the ruling class, and we're not talking about a narrow range of individuals, we're talking about quite a wide social group. People who had power regionally and locally would be buried under an urban mound.

And if you travel around the East Balkans, you will see lots and lots of these mounds. And many of them are collective burials, but some of them are individual burials. So typically the ruling class, and we're not talking about a narrow range of individuals, we're talking about quite a wide social group. People who had power regionally and locally would be buried under an urban mound.

And if you travel around the East Balkans, you will see lots and lots of these mounds. And many of them are collective burials, but some of them are individual burials. So typically the ruling class, and we're not talking about a narrow range of individuals, we're talking about quite a wide social group. People who had power regionally and locally would be buried under an urban mound.

And this is partly connected to ideas about the afterlife. and partly to the status of those individuals in life. Those who had leadership responsibilities are buried in these earthen mounds. And sometimes they're buried simply in a pit in the ground and sometimes inside a built stone sarcophagus or chamber. And the purpose there is to enable that individual to continue an existence after death.

And this is partly connected to ideas about the afterlife. and partly to the status of those individuals in life. Those who had leadership responsibilities are buried in these earthen mounds. And sometimes they're buried simply in a pit in the ground and sometimes inside a built stone sarcophagus or chamber. And the purpose there is to enable that individual to continue an existence after death.

And this is partly connected to ideas about the afterlife. and partly to the status of those individuals in life. Those who had leadership responsibilities are buried in these earthen mounds. And sometimes they're buried simply in a pit in the ground and sometimes inside a built stone sarcophagus or chamber. And the purpose there is to enable that individual to continue an existence after death.

And we have some hints about what that otherworldly existence involves. But one of the things that it is thought to involve is coming back, coming back as a prophet or as a seer or some sort of unearthly return.

And we have some hints about what that otherworldly existence involves. But one of the things that it is thought to involve is coming back, coming back as a prophet or as a seer or some sort of unearthly return.

And we have some hints about what that otherworldly existence involves. But one of the things that it is thought to involve is coming back, coming back as a prophet or as a seer or some sort of unearthly return.

We do have a lot of information about elite burials. And when we talk about the elite, as I said, we're actually talking about quite a large social group because they seem to represent local leadership, dynasties or social groups. But there are collective burials. There are secondary burials within these tumuli, not necessarily regularly, but they do exist.