MOTALA, Sweden, Sept. 19 (UPI) -- Swedish archaeologists say their discovery of Stone Age skulls mounted on wooden stakes is the first finding of its kind in the world.

The skulls were unearthed from a lake bed in central Sweden near the town of Motala, The Local reported Monday.


"We found two skulls that still had wooden stakes sticking out of them through a hole at the base of the skull," archaeologist Fredrik Hallberg said.

Carbon-14 dating has put the skulls at about 8,000 years old, he said.

"As far as we know, this discovery is unique in the world. Nothing has been found like this that is so old."

Skulls or fragments of skulls from 11 people have been discovered, along with bones of animals and artifacts, at what researchers said they believed was a ceremonial burial site.

"Clearly this lake was some sort of holy place for the people who lived here at the time," Hallberg said.