In a significant breakthrough, the researchers resolved the mystery behind the skeleton discovered at the Banga Harirajpur of Delang block near Jatani. They claimed that the skeleton belonged to the Copper Age (Chalocolitic age) that existed 3,500 to 4,000 years back.
They revealed the fact that the man was 5 ft.7 inch tall. He was physically strong and healthy. Though, the cause of his death has not been ascertained, but it is believed that he had died naturally. He did not have major diseases. It was revealed that his left forearm had been fractured, which was probably caused by falling off the tree. But it was completely healed. It suggested that he had undergone natural/herbal treatment. He had lived more than 10 years after getting fracture in his hand. His bones showed no sign of infection and his teeth were white and strong, which suggested the presence of higher percentage of Fluorine in water.
The findings showed that the man’s feet were chopped off at the time of burial. It is believed that cutting lower feet of the dead prior to the burial was a common practice in Copper Age. The DNA samples of the skeleton have been sent to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad for further analysis. The fractured bones will be X-rayed to find out the healing process of that period.
The skeleton was a significant discovery by a team led by Prof Basa of Utkal University and Prof RK Mohanty of Deccan College. They had started digging the site a month back. As per their assumption, they found the skeleton, pottery, stone artefacts, plant materials, copper materials, and floors from the site.