Horrors of the past: cannibalism and massacres discovered in Somerset!

Horrors of the past: cannibalism and massacres discovered in Somerset!

Horrific discoveries from the Bronze Age: cannibalism in Britain?

Archaeologists have uncovered a shocking truth: Nearly 4,000 years ago, a bloody massacre occurred in Somerset, England that could rewrite human history. The remains of at least 37 individuals, including men, women and children, were discovered and show clear signs of violence and cannibalism.

The site, which was discovered 50 years ago, contains human remains with cut and bite marks. These gruesome clues point to violent mass killing and the shocking practice of anthropophagy - the targeted killing and consumption of human flesh.

What was discovered?

In one current study Scientists examined around 3,000 fragmented bones recovered by speleologists at Charterhouse Warren in the 1970s. Left unnoticed for decades, these remnants come from a community that was wiped out in a single, devastating incident.

The bones were found in a 15 meter deep limestone shaft and have numerous cut marks. Some skulls are crushed and there are signs of decapitation and marrow extraction. The human bite marks, which indicate cannibalism, are particularly frightening.

Why were these people killed?

The violence does not appear to arise from hunger or a lack of resources. In addition to the human remains, cattle bones were also found, indicating an adequate food supply. There is no evidence of competition for resources or climatic changes during this period. The injuries indicate that the victims were taken by surprise and deliberately killed.

Rick J Schulting, the study's lead author, explains that such archaeological finds can expand our understanding of human violence in the past and present. The extreme brutality could have been triggered by theft or social conflicts that escalated into deadly acts of revenge.

“This extreme violence was probably not an isolated incident,” says Schulting. “The victims’ families may have sought retaliation, leading to a cycle of violence.” This suggests that cannibalism was not just a matter of feeding, but a deliberate dehumanization of the victims.

The study presents a picture of a more complex and bleak Bronze Age society in Britain, which was considered relatively peaceful. “Sometimes a single site can change our perception,” says Schulting.

The Bronze Age, which lasted from about 2,500 to 800 B.C. The period lasted until 2000 BC and was characterized by advances in metal processing, agriculture and trade. But the discovery shows that the communities were also capable of large-scale violence, perhaps due to social conflict or disease outbreaks.

The remains of two children show evidence of plague infection, suggesting that disease could increase tensions.

Historically, there have been reports of cannibalism, but not as a widespread norm. In Europe, evidence of cannibalism has been found in fewer than 10 percent of archaeological sites, often associated with specific rituals or survival situations.

The discovery in Somerset sheds new light on the dark sides of human history and challenges us to rethink the complexities of the Bronze Age and human nature.