6,000-Year-Old Skeleton Reveals Rare Survival of Brutal Lion Attack in Bulgaria
SOFIA, Bulgaria — Archaeologists have uncovered a remarkable 6,000-year-old skeleton in eastern Bulgaria that reveals a prehistoric man survived a savage lion attack, an encounter that left him with severe injuries but did not claim his life. The discovery, published in the February 2026 edition of the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, sheds new light on human-animal interactions during the Late Eneolithic period and provides rare physical evidence of survival from such a dangerous encounter.
The skeleton belongs to a man who lived between 4600 and 4200 B.C., standing over 5 feet 7 inches tall and estimated to have died between the ages of 18 and 30. Excavated near the Black Sea coast, close to the archaeological site known as Kozareva Mogila or the Goat Mound, the remains bear multiple healed wounds, including puncture marks on the skull and injuries to the limbs. These injuries are consistent with an attack by a large carnivore, most likely a lion, which roamed the region during that era.
“There is direct archaeological evidence for interactions between humans and lions,” explained Nadezhda Karastoyanova, a paleontologist at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences in Sofia who led the zooarchaeological analysis. She noted that over 15 lion remains with cut marks indicating hunting and butchering have been found at prehistoric sites across Bulgaria, especially along the Black Sea coast in areas such as Durankulak and Sozopol. This suggests that encounters with lions were not uncommon, but surviving such an attack was extraordinarily rare.
The wounds on the young man’s skeleton show clear signs of healing, indicating he survived the attack and lived for months afterward. Karastoyanova emphasized the significance of this finding: “These injuries would have made independent survival impossible and strongly suggest prolonged care and support from the surrounding community.” This insight into prehistoric social behavior highlights the compassion and cooperation within early human groups.
The study’s co-authors, including Veselin Danov, Petya Petrova, and Viktoria Ruseva, meticulously documented and interpreted the skeletal trauma, contributing to a better understanding of human resilience in prehistoric times. The discovery also complements findings from other institutions, such as the National Park Service’s archaeology programs, which emphasize the importance of burial sites in reconstructing ancient lifeways.
Such evidence of prehistoric animal attacks on humans is “extremely rare,” according to experts. The fact that this individual survived a lion attack during adolescence and was cared for by his community offers a poignant glimpse into the dangers faced by early humans and their social structures. It also underscores the presence of large predators in the region during the Eneolithic period, a time of significant cultural and technological development in southeastern Europe.
The Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, which oversees much of the country’s archaeological research, continues to explore these ancient sites to uncover further insights into human prehistory. This discovery not only enriches Bulgaria’s archaeological heritage but also contributes to the global understanding of human-animal dynamics in prehistoric ecosystems.
For more on prehistoric archaeology and human evolution, visit the National Geographic Science section and the Archaeological Institute of America. These organizations provide ongoing coverage of groundbreaking discoveries that illuminate humanity’s distant past.
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