At least 18 graves, containing human bones and burial objects in stone-built coffin-like boxes from 2000 BC were unearthed when workers were digging for the foundations of an apartment building in Savièse, the Valais cantonal chancellery External linkannounced on Tuesday.
Archaeological finds from the Bronze Age in the same region of Switzerland have been known, but it is the first time that a burial site could be examined and documented in more detail, according to officials.
Experts say the discovery shows that dead bodies were buried in a foetal position up to the Bronze Age and not only in the Neolithic Age.
It’s believed the foetal position resembles sleeping so the souls of the dead can rest in peace. Others say the burial reflects the worship of reproduction and their foetus-shaped dead bodies indicate the wish to reborn.
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In pursuit of the crystal hunters
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In the Swiss Alps, a melting glacier has revealed crystal tools made by hunter-gatherers. Now archaeologists are examining what they left behind.
Cost of leisure activities rises dramatically in Switzerland
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The Swiss paid more for leisure activities in December. Prices for vacation apartments, package tours and cable cars rose significantly.
New Swiss epidemic surveillance centre inaugurated
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The Centre for Pathogen Bioinformatics was inaugurated in Bern on Thursday. It aims to improve epidemics monitoring in Switzerland using genomic data.
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Switzerland, as a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), signed a free trade agreement with Thailand during WEF.
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The federal audit office has criticised the Swiss government for poor planning of the procurement of six drones from an Israeli supplier.
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The latest figures from the Federal Office of Public Health show that lab-confirmed cases dropped from nearly 2,340 to under 2,000 last week.
Swiss cities targeted by Russian hackers during WEF
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Russian hackers have targeted canton Schaffhausen and the cities of Geneva and Sierre, paralysing their websites on Wednesday morning.
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Paul Hottinguer, a member of one of Switzerland’s most famous banking families, will face trial in Paris for tax fraud and money laundering.
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‘Livable’ Swiss cemetery caters to all faiths
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The Bremgarten cemetery in Bern is one of few in Switzerland offering people of diverse world religions and belief systems a final resting place.
Bronze Age tombs unearthed during car park construction
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The tombs were discovered in Sion, a town in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. The artefacts were dated between 850 and 400 BC – a period when the Bronze Age was giving way to the second Iron Age. A bronze sword with an ivory pommel was discovered among the remains of an adult male, along…
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.