The identity mystery of 54 headless skeletons

Results from a recent study show that the remains of bones in the mysterious mass grave in southern England most likely belong to a group of Viking mercenaries - brutal and worthy killers. Most feared in the Middle Ages world.

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It seems they are all victims of a massive mass execution that happened around the 11th century, experts concluded.

In 2009, when conducting a regional survey of Ridgeway Hill, Dorset to prepare for a new road crossing, archaeologists suddenly found this mass grave. The headless skeletons of 54 young men surprised them. All were piled up in a fairly shallow grave.

The carbon method helps determine the age of objects that revealed that these 54 men were murdered around 1000.

The headless skeletons of 54 young men
made archaeologists extremely surprised. (Photo: PA)

That makes the research team hypothesize about the arrival of Viking warriors, as this is also the time when the Anglo-Saxons (existing along the south coast) must always live in threat. from Viking attacks. Testing of isotopes on teeth shows that they are indeed from Scandinavia. However, the true identity of this group has so far remained mysterious.

From the information and documents collected, Dr. Britt Baillie of McDonald's Archaeological Research Institute conducted a reconstruction of what happened at Dorset 1000 years ago.

Baillie's analysis attracted the attention of the scientific community when making the judgment, this may be the Viking mercenaries - cold-blooded murderers who never show fear and never escape run before the enemy. They built a strong stronghold on the Baltic coast, scattering fears throughout Europe.

In the 11th century, the Anglo-Saxon was under King Aethelred II's rule (also known as Aethelred 'incompetent' ). Although it is difficult to find evidence of a mass execution in the Middle Ages, however Aethelred's reign is an exception.

After successive attacks initiated by Vikings, fearing for their lives, in 1002, Aethelred issued a wrathful command. Accordingly, all Danish men living in England, including Danelaw residents (British lands occupied by Viking forces) and other mercenaries elsewhere, were murdered on St Brice, November 13 - bloody massacre is recorded by history.

Historians say, it is likely that similar massacres also took place in Bristol, Gloucester and London.

However, so far, the mysteries surrounding the mass grave in Dorset remain a controversial topic among scientists.