But "religious or ceremonial" is archaeology's cop out. According to article, the skeletons had compression fractures, consistent with blunt-force injury (as b

But "religious or ceremonial" is archaeology's cop out. According to article, the skeletons had compression fractures, consistent with blunt-force injury (as by hailstorm), and analysis of the skulls is planned for the next study. I'd rule out banditry, military action, natural geological or weather events, and poisoning first.