Agricultures of the past: cannibalism in Somerset reveals shocking truth

Agricultures of the past: cannibalism in Somerset reveals shocking truth

creepy discoveries from the Bronze Age: cannibalism in Great Britain?

A shocking find from Somerset, England, throws a dark light on the history of mankind! Archaeologists have discovered remains that indicate one of the bloodiest massacre in British history - and almost 4,000 years ago!

The remains, which were excavated for the first time around 50 years ago, come from the rural area of Charterhouse Warren. Human bones were found here, which are provided with cutting and bite tracks. These cruel indications indicate a violent massacre and even to cannibalism - a shocking chapter in the history of mankind!

a cruel massacre

in a current study have examined scientists around 3,000 fragmented bones, which were originally discovered by cave researchers in the 1970s. These remains probably belong to at least 37 individuals - men, women and children - who between 2,200 and 2,000 BC. Chr. Were killed and mutilated.

The discovery represents the greatest known case of interpersonal violence in the prehistoric history of Great Britain. Almost half of the remains belong to teenagers and children, which indicates that an entire community in a single, devastating incident has been extinguished.

The bones were thrown into a 15 meter deep limestone shaft and show numerous cut stamps. Some skulls are smashed and there are indications of pulling meat and triggering bone marrow. The human bite tracks that indicate cannibalism are particularly alarming!

Why were these people killed?

The reasons for these brutal deeds are terrifying! It is unlikely that hunger or resource shortage triggered violence. In addition to the human remains, cattle bones were also found, which indicates sufficient food supply. There is no evidence of competition about resources or climatic changes during this time. There are also no genetic evidence for different groups at the site, which indicates that ethnic or interpersonal tensions were in the center of the conflict.

The victims were specifically killed, as the blunt injuries on the skulls show. A lack of defense injuries indicates that they have been surprised. The main author of the study, Rick J. Schulting, explains that such archaeological studies can convey a more comprehensive image of prehistoric periods and contribute to the knowledge of human violence in the past and present.

Extreme violence could have been triggered by theft, in particular cattle, or social disputes that escalated into murderous revenge. Schulting emphasizes that this extreme violence was probably not an isolated case and that the relatives of the victims were looking for revenge, which could lead to a cycle of violence in the region.

These cruel acts indicate that cannibalism was not only a survival instinct, but also represents a deliberate dehumanization of the victims!

The study changes our view of the society of early Bronze Age in Great Britain and questions the idea of a relatively peaceful period. Schulting explains that sometimes a single location can change our perceptions.

The Bronze Age, which of around 2,500 to 800 BC. BC, it was characterized by progress in metal processing, agriculture and trade. However, the discovery shows that the communities of the early Bronze Age were also capable of large -scale violence, possibly due to social conflicts or disease.

The remains of two children show signs of a pest infection, which indicates that diseases could increase tensions.

The knowledge of cannibalism in the past is not new. Archaeological evidence show that cannibalism occurred sporadically in certain regions, but was not a widespread phenomenon. In prehistoric European history, less than 10 percent of the known sites were associated with cannibalism, often in the context of rituals or survival situations.

The discovery in Somerset is a shocking example of the dark side of human nature and makes us think about violence and brutality in the past!