Victim of a massacre: 2000-year-old skeleton of a young girl found in England (photo)
Archaeologists have uncovered gruesome evidence of the ritual murder of a woman who lived more than 2,000 years ago in Dorset, England. Her skeleton, found during excavations in 2010, reveals a life marred by hard labor, trauma and violent death.
Examination of the bones of the woman, who was in her early 20s at the time of her death, showed signs of spinal degeneration and well-developed muscles, indicating hard physical labor over a long period of time. Isotopic analysis of her teeth also suggested that she was probably not born in the village where she died, but came from somewhere else, possibly the south of England or another part of Europe.
A brutal death
Shortly before her death, the woman suffered a rib fracture that partially fused. However, a wound on her neck that showed no signs of healing was fatal. This injury probably caused her death.
Unusual burial
The woman's burial was also atypical. She was found face down at the bottom of a pit covered with animal bones, mostly horses and cows. This artificial platform of bones, according to the researchers, may be evidence of a ritual killing.
Rare evidence of a cruel practice
Human sacrifice in the British Iron Age is mentioned in historical sources, but physical evidence of such rituals is rare. This case may be one of the few surviving examples of a cruel practice that existed at the time.
"Behind every ancient burial we find, there is someone's story waiting to be told," says Martin Smith, a forensic anthropologist at Bournemouth University. "This tragic case gives us a unique opportunity to look into the life and death of a woman who lived more than 2000 years ago and learn about the cruel practices of that time.
As a reminder, scientists have learned how the Egyptian ruler Nefertiti fascinated everyone with her beauty.
If you want to get the latest news about the war and events in Ukraine, subscribe to our Telegram channel!