A groundbreaking study published in Praehistorische Zeitschrift reveals that Neolithic women in central Poland likely led exclusive secret societies and performed high-status drinking rituals. Excavations at Sławęcinek uncovered a set of ceremonial vessels, including decorated funnel beakers and collared flasks, dating back to between 3500 and 3350 B.C.
The site is unique because it contains no male skeletal remains, but features elaborate female burials accompanied by nearly 400 animal bones, suggesting large-scale funeral feasts. Dr. Łukasz Kowalski, the study's lead, noted that the presence of wagon motifs on the vessels and the specific placement of ritual items suggest these women held central roles in the community's spiritual and social governance through communal celebration.