4,000-Year-Old Massacre in Britain Reveals Unprecedented Bronze Age Violence

Archaeologists uncover evidence of systematic killings, dismemberment, and cannibalism in a Somerset cave, challenging assumptions about prehistoric Britain.

The remains of at least 37 individuals, including men, women, and children, were found in a 15-meter-deep shaft at Charterhouse Warren, Somerset, dating back to 2210-2010 BCE.
The victims showed signs of blunt force trauma, scalping, dismemberment, and cannibalism, with human bite marks identified on some bones.
Researchers suggest the attackers aimed to dehumanize the victims, mixing their remains with cattle bones and treating them like animal carcasses.
DNA analysis revealed that most victims were local, with two children showing evidence of plague bacteria, though its link to the violence remains unclear.
The findings challenge long-held views of the Early Bronze Age as a relatively peaceful period, pointing to organized violence and ritualized brutality.