See the Faces of Two Sisters Who Toiled Away in a Neolithic Mine 6,000 Years Ago

Around 6,000 years ago, two sisters toiled in a mine located in what is now the Czech Republic, performing physically demanding labor—even while injured. After their deaths, for reasons still unknown, their bodies were buried one on top of the other deep in the mine shaft.

This scenario comes from new research published in the journal Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, where archaeologists detail their findings after studying the women’s remains and reconstructing their likely appearance.

The skeletons were first discovered over 15 years ago during excavations of a Neolithic chert mine in the Krumlov Forest, South Moravia—one of Europe’s largest sites for chert extraction. Chert was a key material used to make tools and weapons during the Stone Age.

The first woman’s remains were uncovered about 20 feet underground. Just a few feet below her, researchers found the second skeleton, as well as the remains of a newborn baby placed on one of the women’s chests, and a small dog whose skull and bones were oddly split between the two burials.

Radiocarbon dating places the women’s lives between 4050 and 4340 BCE. Genetic analysis confirmed that they were closely related—likely sisters—though the baby was not biologically connected to either.

The exact cause of their deaths remains unclear. Their bones show no signs of violence or disease, leading some researchers to speculate that the women may have been buried as part of a ritual offering to the earth, possibly to ensure the mine’s success. Another theory suggests they may have been killed after becoming too injured or weak to work.

According to Martin Oliva of the Moravian Museum, “They may have been put down when they could no longer work.”

Detailed examination of their bones and teeth revealed they endured hard lives. Both were short and slender, under five feet tall. The younger sister, around 30–35 years old, likely had dark hair and green or hazel eyes. The older sister, about 35–40, probably had blonde hair and blue eyes.

Their early years were marked by illness and malnutrition, but their adult diets improved—likely because they consumed more meat than was common at the time. The researchers believe this could be due to their physically demanding work or access to wild game in the region.

Evidence suggests the women worked long hours in hunched positions, hauling heavy rocks. One of them even had a fractured arm but likely continued working despite the injury.

Researchers suspect the women may not have had a choice in their labor. As social hierarchies emerged during the Neolithic period, those with less power—possibly women—were more easily forced into grueling work.

Still, another possibility is that their small size made them ideal for maneuvering through narrow mine shafts, and they may have worked voluntarily.

Though many mysteries remain, archaeologists sought to humanize the women by creating 3D silicone busts of their faces. These reconstructions are now on display at the Moravian Museum as part of an exhibit on the archaeological discoveries in the Krumlov Forest. Their clothing is based on Neolithic textiles found across Europe.

Source: Smithsonian Magazine