Archaeologists uncover a horrific prehistoric massacre in Britain

In the 1970s, archaeologists discovered prehistoric human remains from a deep underground well in Somerset, England. However, the truth of what happened to these men, women and children has only recently come to light.

Archaeologists in the UK and Europe have analyzed the Early Bronze Age remains of 37 people in England, uncovering evidence of a horrific massacre. Their findings, detailed in A He studies Published today in the magazine Antiquityhighlights the largest known example of interpersonal violence in British prehistory and challenges the idea that Early Bronze Age Britain (c. 2500 to 1200 BC) was a period of relative peace.

The remains in question include more than 3,000 human bones and bone fragments previously discovered in a 49.2-foot (15 m) deep shaft at an archaeological site in Somerset known as Charterhouse Warren. It was the individuals, men, women and children – likely representing a community, according to the researchers – who were killed, butchered, and likely cannibalized before being thrown into the mine.

Archaeologists, led by Rick Schulting of the University of Oxford, found evidence of blunt force trauma to the skull, fractures that occurred at the time of death, and cut marks likely caused by flesh. The latter two findings specifically point to the intent behind slaughter and cannibalism, according to the study.

Regarding cannibalism, researchers have ruled out funeral rituals and hunger as possible triggers. The deaths of individuals were clearly violent, there is no evidence of fighting (so they were probably taken by surprise), and the presence of cattle bones in the same column suggests that there was no shortage of food at the time. So, what could have been the motivation behind this shocking act of prehistoric violence?

“Cannibalism may have been a way to ‘represent’ the deceased,” the researchers wrote in an article. Antiquity The statement was emailed to Gizmodo. “By eating their flesh and mixing the bones with animal remains, the killers likened their enemies to animals, thus dehumanizing them.”

But this explanation does not explain the motivation behind the violence as a whole. At the time, Britain was not experiencing climate change or other events that might have caused competition for resources, according to the study. There is also no known genetic evidence of ethnic conflict.

As a result, the researchers suggest that the conflict may have been caused by social factors, and was ultimately triggered by crimes such as theft and/or insults. The plague – which earlier research had uncovered in two children’s infected teeth – may also have exacerbated pre-existing tensions.

“Ultimately, the findings paint a picture of a prehistoric people for whom perceived insults and cycles of revenge could lead to disproportionate acts of violence. This situation is, unfortunately, all too familiar from recent times,” they wrote.

Although direct evidence of violent conflict in Britain between 2500 and 1500 BC is scarce, the spectacle of this massacre undoubtedly challenges the suggestion that the time period may have been relatively peaceful.

“It paints a much darker picture of that period than many expected,” Schulting explained. He added: “Charterhouse Warren is one of the rare archaeological sites that challenges the way we think about the past.” “It is unlikely to be a one-off event that makes it even more important to tell his story,” he added.

“At this stage, our investigation has raised as many questions as it has answered. Work continues to shed more light on this dark episode in British prehistory,” the study researchers concluded.

While there is nothing we can do about the mysterious atrocities that occurred in prehistoric times, perhaps we can learn not only from history but from prehistory to stop our cycles of revenge from spiraling any further out of control than they already are.