A mass grave in Dorset containing 54 decapitated skeletons was a burial ground for violent Viking mercenaries, according to a Cambridge archaeologist.
The burial site at Ridgeway Hill was discovered in 2009.
Archaeologists found the bodies of 54 men who had all been decapitated and placed in shallow graves with their heads piled up to one side.
Carbon dating and isotype tests revealed the bodies were Scandinavian and dated from the 11th Century.
At this time Vikings were constantly attacking Anglo-Saxons on the English south coast.
Dr Britt Baillie, from the University of Cambridge, said she believed the killings could have taken place during the reign of Aethelred the Unready.
Following a series of Viking attacks he had ordered all Danish men living in England to be killed on 13 November, St Brice's Day in 1002.
The killings which ensued became known as the St Brice's Day massacre.
Murdered methodically
Purging the defecting traitors. Maybe DC should read up.
ReplyDeleteI have been looking at medieval weapons. Some of the longswords and battle axes used during that time were simple in design, but very effective.
& big!
ReplyDelete