Gräuel of the past: cannibalism and massacre discovered in Somerset!

Gräuel of the past: cannibalism and massacre discovered in Somerset!

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

archaeologists have brought a shocking truth to light: Almost 4,000 years ago, a bloody massacre occurred in Somerset, England that could rewrite the history of mankind. The remains of at least 37 individuals, including men, women and children, were discovered and show clear traces of violence and cannibalism.

The site, which was discovered 50 years ago, harbors human remains, which are provided with cutting and bite traces. These cruel indications indicate a violent mass killing and the shocking practice of anthropophagia - the targeted killing and the consumption of human meat.

What was discovered?

in a current study examined around 3,000 fragmented bones that were recovered by cave researchers in Charterhouse Warren in the 1970s. These remains, which were unnoticed for decades, come from a community that was wiped out in a single, devastating incident.

The bones were found at a 15 -meter -deep limestone shaft and have numerous cut markings. Some skulls are smashed and there are signs of beheading and marker excerpt. The human bites that indicate cannibalism are particularly frightening.

Why were these people killed?

violence does not seem to have arisen out of hunger or resource shortage. In addition to the human remains, cattle bones were also found that indicate sufficient food supply. There is no evidence of competition about resources or climatic changes during this time. The injuries indicate that the victims were caught and killed in a targeted manner.

Rick J Schulting, the main author of the study, 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 fatal revenge.

"This extreme violence was probably not an isolated case," says Schulting. "The relatives of the victims could have been looking for retaliation, which would have led to a cycle of violence." This indicates that cannibalism was not just a food intake, but also a conscious dehumanization of the victims.

The study represents the image of a more complex and dark Bronze Age Society in Great Britain, which was considered relatively peaceful. "Sometimes a single foundation can change our perception," says Schulting.

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 were also capable of large -scale violence, possibly due to social conflicts or disease.

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

Historically, there was always reports on cannibalism, but not as a widespread norm. In Europe, references to cannibalism were found in less than 10 percent of archaeological sites, often in connection with specific rituals or survival situations.

The discovery in Somerset throws a new light on the dark sides of human history and asks us to reconsider the complexity of the Bronze Age and human nature.

Details
OrtCharterhouse Warren, Somerset, England