More than 30 people ‘butchered and cannibalised’ in ‘exceptionally violent’ Bronze age massacre

Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Get our free Health Check email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery Evidence of injuries on the bones “Many of the victims’ skulls were shattered by the blows that killed them, and leg and arm bones had been cut away after death to extract the bone marrow,” said Prof Schulting, lead author of the study. He continued: “For the early Bronze Age in Britain, we have very little evidence for violence. There have been no real discussions of warfare or large-scale violence in that period, purely through lack of evidence.” The massacre likely stemmed from a breakdown of relationships or an act of revenge that spiralled out of control, Prof Schulting said, saying that “literally chopping” someone into pieces, “seems like something you would only do if fueled by anger, fear, and resentment.” The victims, including many children, appear to have been taken by surprise, as there is no evidence of resistance or fighting back. Saying: “I hope it gives us insights into human nature that extend beyond just the Bronze Age,” The research is published in Antiquity.