Academic papers or conference presentations

4,000-Year-Old Bronze Age Massacre at Charterhouse Warren, Somerset, Involved Cannibalism of 37 Victims

Dec 16, 2024, 12:40 PM

Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of a significant Bronze Age massacre in Somerset, England, dating back approximately 4,000 years. The remains, initially discovered in the 1970s, reveal that at least 37 individuals, including men, women, and children, were brutally killed, dismembered, and likely cannibalized. The victims' bones, found in a 15-meter-deep natural shaft at Charterhouse Warren, show signs of violent death, with many skulls exhibiting blunt force trauma. The analysis indicates that the victims were possibly taken by surprise, as there is no evidence of a struggle. The attackers systematically dismembered the bodies, using stone tools to remove flesh and extract bone marrow, suggesting a ritualistic aspect to the violence. This event, occurring between 2210 and 2010 BC, is considered the largest known example of interpersonal violence from British prehistory, challenging the perception of the Early Bronze Age as a relatively peaceful period. The massacre might have been part of a cycle of revenge between communities, with the act of cannibalism potentially serving to dehumanize the victims.