A gruesome discovery in Somerset, England has revealed evidence of what may be Britain’s largest prehistoric mass killing, where at least 37 men, women, and children were brutally murdered and systematically butchered around 4,000 years ago.
Published in Antiquity | Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The remains, found in a 15-meter-deep shaft at Charterhouse Warren, paint a disturbing picture of extreme violence in Early Bronze Age Britain. Analysis of over 3,000 human bones and fragments has revealed evidence of systematic killing, dismemberment, and possible cannibalism in what researchers believe was a single event of mass violence between 2210 and 2010 BCE.
“We actually find more evidence for injuries to skeletons dating to the Neolithic period in Britain than the Early Bronze Age, so Charterhouse Warren stands out as something very unusual,” explains lead author Professor Rick Schulting from the University of Oxford. “It paints a considerably darker picture of the period than many would have expected.”
Evidence of Systematic Violence
The archaeological evidence reveals a methodical approach to killing and processing the victims. Examination of the skulls showed that 45% of the preserved cranial elements displayed signs of blunt force trauma, indicating violent death. The victims included people of all ages, from infants to older adults, suggesting an indiscriminate attack on an entire community.
Perhaps most disturbing was the evidence of systematic post-mortem processing. Researchers found cut marks on 20% of the human bones, with patterns indicating both dismemberment and removal of flesh. The level of processing was so thorough that even the tongues appear to have been removed, as evidenced by cut marks on the interior surfaces of some jawbones.
A Political Statement
The researchers suggest this wasn’t simply an act of violence but rather a calculated political statement. The systematic processing of the bodies appears to have been a way to dehumanize the victims, treating them as animals rather than people. This interpretation is supported by the fact that the human remains were mixed with cattle bones in the shaft.
The discovery of plague bacteria in the teeth of two children adds another layer of complexity to the story. “The finding of evidence of the plague was completely unexpected,” notes Professor Schulting. “We’re still unsure whether, and if so how, this is related to the violence at the site.”
Glossary
- Perimortem trauma
- Injuries that occur at or near the time of death, before the bone has lost its elastic properties
- Cut marks
- Traces left on bones by sharp tools during butchery or dismemberment
- Blunt force trauma
- Damage caused by impact from a dull object, characterized by crushing and breaking rather than cutting
Test Your Knowledge
How many individuals were identified in the Charterhouse Warren shaft?
At least 37 individuals were identified, including men, women, and children of various ages.
What percentage of human bones showed evidence of cut marks?
20% of the human elements showed cut marks, indicating systematic processing of the bodies.
What was unique about this discovery compared to other Bronze Age sites in Britain?
This represents the largest-scale example of interpersonal violence from British prehistory, showing unprecedented evidence of systematic killing and post-mortem processing.
What evidence suggests this was a single event rather than accumulation over time?
Radiocarbon dating of the remains from Horizon 2 can be combined statistically to 2197-2038 cal BC, consistent with a single event.
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