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Causes of Decapitation in Dvin: Interpretation of Historical Evidence
A. Khudaverdyan and Nyura G. Hakobyan
Published: 2025/12/01
Abstract
This article examines the excavated fire temple in Dvin, the capital of medieval Armenia. Dvin was located at the crossroads of numerous external trade routes as well as internal commercial networks. During the course of the excavations, skulls were recovered that displayed clear evidence of violent trauma. Fractures of the occipital condyles and damage to the left mastoid region were observed at the base of the individuals’ skulls. These injuries suggest that the victims were held by the hair, and their heads were struck with a sword. This study explores the potential causes of the observed violence and considers whether these acts may have been connected to ritual practices, particularly sacrificial offerings associated with the fire temple or with Zoroastrian religious traditions.
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